Josef Neruda learned the basics of organ playing in the Rajhrad monastery. In his youth, he was a teacher assistant in Náměšť nad Oslavou, besides this he played in Haugwitz chapel and taught piano in Olomouc. In 1832, he accepted an offer to become the minister organist in Brno. He kept this position for 36 years.
Family
Josef Neruda had musically talented children. He toured all over the Europe with some of them under the name Neruda Quartet.[2]
Amálie Neruda (married Wickenhauser, 1834–1890), a pianist and a teacher, one of her students was Leoš Janáček
Viktor Neruda (1836–1852), a cellist, died during the Russian concert tour in Saint Petersburg