In 2026, Xani has been named the Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s Take Note Leader. Now in its eighth year, the Take Note program addresses the underrepresentation of women and gender-diverse musicians in jazz, fostering leadership and visibility on stages and in high schools across Victoria.
“For seven years, Melbourne International Jazz Festival has supported outstanding artists through the Take Note program – and we are proud to announce Xani as our eighth Take Note Jazz Leader,” says CEO and Program Director of Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Hadley Agrez. “The path Xani has carved as an electric violinist makes her quite unlike anyone else in the Australian music landscape. We’re thrilled to have her lead this year’s Take Note program — she will bring something genuinely exciting to students across Victoria through her school workshops, and I can’t wait to see the bold new work she creates for our 2026 festival in October.”
“I am over the moon to be chosen as this year’s Take Note Leader,” says Xani. “It is an honour and a precious gift; especially after being inspired by, and in awe of, the projects and music created by each and every Take Note Leader who has come before me. I am looking forward to diving into themes of character, identity and names; having just recently obtained my Polish citizenship by descent. I have spent the last couple of years exploring the sounds of Eastern parts of Europe and bringing these influences into my way of approaching amplified violin and languages of improvised music. The Take Note program is an incredible opportunity for me to explore, test and experiment with these discoveries to create an ambitious new work that I hope to love and share multiple times. It is rare to have so much guidance, support, and encouragement while also having time to dedicate to making new work. I am excited to challenge myself, push boundaries and dive deeper into my way of being a Polish-Australian improvising violinist.”
Xani will perform her new work KOŁACZ on October 17th at Howler as part of this year’s Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Featuring:
Helen Svoboda (double bass, voice)
Justin Olsson (drums, tuned percussion)
Tuulikki Bartosik (accordion, kannel)
More info and tickets available here: https://www.melbournejazz.com/events/xani-kolacz/