Participants Universitas Cantat 2026
Jacek Szwaj BAND, POLAND
Jacek Szwaj BAND
https://www.facebook.com/jacekszwajtrio/
Jacek Szwaj - one of Poland’s most talented pianists, vocalists and jazz arrangers. Highly regarded as a leading figure among jazz musicians, he has a wealth of awards, concerts and collaborations with outstanding artists to his name, as well as academic work as a Doctor of Musical Arts. He studied jazz piano at the Academies of Music in Katowice and Poznan. At the latter, he also trained as a conductor of choirs and chamber ensembles. As a jazz pianist, he has taken part in numerous jazz festivals in Poland and abroad, mainly with projects such as “Hanna Banaszak”, “Jacek Szwaj Trio”, “Uluru” and “Flou”. He is also a composer of songs, film scores, television documentaries and commercial productions. He won first prize at the “Instant Composition Contest”, an international film improvisation competition held as part of the Transatlantyk Festival in 2012. His activities extend far beyond the realms of mainstream jazz. He is actively involved in creative work related to classical music, musicals and film. With a programme of jazz arrangements of classical piano works, he has given concerts in Sofia, Paris and Barcelona, amongst other places. He has collaborated with the Mazovian Institute of Culture, the Mazovian Musical Theatre, the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic, and the Poznan Philharmonic.
Marek Konarski - A graduate of the Danish National Academy of Music in Odense, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and the Little Jazz Academy in Gorzów Wielkopolski. He holds a PhD in Music and is currently a lecturer at the Academy of Music in Poznan. A saxophonist characterised by a warm and deep tone.
His improvisations are energetic and full of lyricism, with clear influences from jazz, Scandinavian music and Polish folklore. He is active on the European scene, recording albums and collaborating with artists such as Jerry Bergonzi, Adam Bałdych, Tim Hagans, Kathrine Windfeld, Anders Mogensen and many others. Winner of competitions in Poland and abroad, including the “Helsinki Jazz Comets”, the “Blue Note Poznań Competition”, and the competition for a jazz recording debut organised by the National Institute of Music and Dance.
Musician of the Year 2015 on the Danish island of Fyn. In 2022, his album “Konarski & Folks” was nominated for the prestigious Fryderyk Award. For his artistic work to date, the musician has received the 100th Anniversary of Independence Medal from the Prime Minister of Poland, the Honorary Badge for Services to the Lubuskie Voivodeship, and the Honorary Badge of Merit for Polish Culture awarded by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
Mateusz Brzostowski - Polish session drummer and producer. A graduate of the Jazz and Stage Music Department at the Wrocław Academy of Music. He holds a PhD in Music and is a lecturer at the Academy of Music in Poznan. He has won top prizes at the two largest drumming festivals in Poland.
He collaborates with many Polish and international musicians and has recorded numerous albums. He runs his own recording studio specialising in the recording of percussion instruments. In addition to his concert and recording activities, he gives lessons and workshops in drumming. He is a winner of many significant percussion and jazz competitions in Poland and abroad.
