About

*Born in 1980 in Gdynia (Poland)

Pianist, vibraphonist and a composer focusing on many genres of music.
Doctor of Musical Arts. An author of many compositions being regularly published in the USA and performed all over the world.

His creativity – full of rhythm, energy, expression and romance, neatly combines the features of classical, jazz and world music. Compositions are often kept in a cheerful, optimistic mood.

Jan started his musical education at the age of 7 in the piano class.

After studying jazz mallets (with Bernard Maseli) and composition (Andrzej Zubek) at the Music Academy in Katowice (PL), Jan entered the master class of an American composer Bill Molenhof, at the Academy of Music in Nuremberg (Germany), who inspired him to compose music for vibraphone. Recently he also completed advanced studies – Composition for Film, Theater and Media at Zurich University of the Arts (with Niki Reiser).

From 2011-2018 Jan Freicher was a lecturer at the State Academy of Music in Gdansk (PL). Areas of specialty included Jazz Vibraphone, Piano Improvisation and Mallet Improvisation.

In 2007 Jan was honored with the award of the Jazz Personality of the Year in Poland.
He is also a holder of many prizes, e.g. the 1st Prize in the Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest.

Jan is a founder and leader of a number of performance ensembles including Fourth Floor, Vadomaya Collective and Symphonic Fusion.

During his career he assisted with songwriting and collaborated with artists such as Paula Jasmine James, Denise Donatsch, Monika Lidke, Joanna Dembler, Maciej Misha Borowicz. Meanwhile, he performed with artists like Georgina Hassan, Karolina Trybala, Rykarda Parasol, Leszek Możdżer, Bogdan Hołownia, Neff Irizarry and many others.

His artistic output consists of over 80 compositions (solo, chamber, symphonic, big-band and songs), over 20 recorded albums and hundreds of staged concerts.

Apart from music, Jan is passionate about swimming in the open water and paragliding.

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