Petr Skalka grew up in a family of musicians in Marienbad (Czech Republic). He had his first encounter with music through his father, who was himself a musician and cellist. After his studies at the Conservatory in Pilsen, his interest in early music and historical performance practice led him to the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis to the distinguished cellist Christoph Coin, whose musical approaches had a decisive influence on him. Since 2001, he has taught as an assistant to Christoph Coin at the Schola Cantorum in Basel. He also held a teaching position at the Hochschule für Musik Nuremberg from 2011-2015.
Petr Skalka is a founding member of the ensemble Café Zimmermann, named after the Leipzig coffee house Zimmermann, where Johann Sebastian Bach and other famous musicians performed their works. He performs regularly with renowned chamber music ensembles throughout Europe (including Café Zimmermann, La Chambre Philharmonique, Ensemble Baroque de Limoges, with Ch. Coin, G. Leonhardt, E. Krivin, A. Beyer). He has participated in numerous recordings, which have won several prestigious awards (Diapason d'or de l'année, 5 étoiles de Classica, etc.).
In the autumn of 2023, he became professor for baroque violoncello at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis / FHNW, passing on his passion for the instrument, for chamber music and for historical performance practice to new generations of musicians.