About

Jan Freicher
Born in 1980 in Gdynia, Poland
Jan Freicher is a pianist, vibraphonist, and composer whose work spans a wide range of musical genres. A Doctor of Musical Arts, he has authored numerous compositions published in the United States and performed around the world.
His music—rich in rhythm, energy, emotion, and lyricism—blends elements of classical, jazz, and world music. Many of his works are characterized by an uplifting and optimistic tone.
Jan began his musical education at the age of seven as a piano student. He later studied jazz vibraphone with Bernard Maseli and composition with Andrzej Zubek at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. He then joined the master class of American composer Bill Molenhof at the University of Music in Nuremberg, Germany, who deeply influenced his approach to composing for vibraphone. More recently, Jan completed advanced studies in Film, Theatre, and Media Composition at the Zurich University of the Arts under Niki Reiser.
From 2011 to 2018, Jan served as a lecturer at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, specializing in jazz vibraphone, piano improvisation, and mallet improvisation.
In 2007, he was named “Jazz Personality of the Year” in Poland. He is also the recipient of numerous awards, including First Prize in the Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest.
Jan is the founder and artistic director of several performance ensembles, including Fourth Floor, Vadomaya Collective, and Symphonic Fusion.
Throughout his career, he has collaborated on songwriting and recordings with artists such as Paula Jasmine James, Denise Donatsch, Monika Lidke, Joanna Dembler, and Maciej “Misha” Borowicz. He has also performed alongside Georgina Hassan, Karolina Trybala, Rykarda Parasol, Leszek Możdżer, Bogdan Hołownia, Neff Irizarry, and many others.
His artistic output includes over 80 original compositions (solo, chamber, symphonic, big band, and vocal works), more than 20 recorded albums, and hundreds of live performances.
Outside of music, Jan is an avid open-water swimmer and paragliding enthusiast. He currently lives in Switzerland.

DISCOGRAPHY 2020
2020 SYMPHONIC FUSION
JAN FREICHER
2020 5 PIANO MINIATURES [EP]
JAN FREICHER
2020 HAUNTED HOUSE
PAULA JASMINE JAMES
2020 ALTER EGOS
DENISE DONATSCH
2020 LET THE WORLD BE A QUESTION
MONIKA LIDKE
2020 SMOOTH JAZZ CAFE 19
VARIOUS ARTISTS
AWARDS
2009 Rome, Italy
Award of the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers
2008 Fermo, Italy
1st Place, PAS Italy Composition Contest (solo compositions)
2008 Fermo, Italy
3rd Place, PAS Italy Composition Contest (chamber)
2007 Wroclaw, Poland
Grand Prix, 43rd Jazz on the Odra River Festival
2007 Gorzow Wlkp, Poland
1st Prize XXXIII Key to the Career, Gorzów Jazz Celebrations
2007 Pinneberg, Germany
Soloist Individual Award, Summer Jazz Festival
2006 Fürth, Germany
1st Place Duke Ellington’s music arranging competition
2005 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Award for Artistic Individuality, XXVIII BIM
2005 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Award of the Ministry of Culture, XXVIII BIM
2004 Radom, Poland
Award of the Ministry of Culture, XXVIII BIM
2003 Bielsko-Biała, Poland
Special Mention, Bielska Zadymka Jazzowa Festival
2003 Opole, Poland
1st Prize, I Vibraphone Competition
EDUCATION
2018-2019 Zurych University of the Arts
CAS Composition for Film, Theatre and Media
2010-2011 Academy of Music in Poznan
Doctor of Musical Arts (PhD), Instrumental
2004-2006 Nuremberg University of Music
Meisterklassendimplom, Master Class Jazz Mallets
2002-2004 Academy of Music in Katowice
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Composition and Arrangement
1999-2004 Academy of Music in Katowice
Master of Arts (M.A.), Jazz Mallets
1995-1999 High School of Music in Gdansk
Vocational diploma – Musician, percussion instruments
1987-1995 Primary School of Music in Gdynia
Primary music school diploma, piano