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