Roland Danyi Group

Winners’ Concert of the Young Jazz Talent Award 2026

Roland Danyi gained a wide range of musical experience in various styles and formats from an early age. From 2021 to 2022, he undertook a junior study programme at the Detmold University of Music, where he studied the oboe under Prof. József Kiss. In 2022, he also took part in a musical exchange programme in South Africa, organised in collaboration with the Soest Music School and the Double Rainbow Project.
Also in 2022, he performed with the group “Funky Friends” at “Jugend jazzt” and won first prize in the state competition, qualifying for the national finals. At the national competition, the band was awarded the concert prize (Jazz Baltica) as well as the Deutsche Grammophon studio prize. In the same year, “Funky Friends” were awarded the Jazz Club Minden concert prize at “Young Jazz Ahead”. This was followed in February 2023 by studio recordings, during which the first EP with “Funky Friends” was produced.
From February to August 2023, Roland Danyi was a student at the Glen Buschmann Jazz Academy (GBJA) in Dortmund, where he began his full-time musical training under Uwe Plath. In November 2023, he went on tour in China with “Quintessenz”. He has been a permanent member of the NRW Youth Jazz Orchestra since March 2024. In October 2024, he commenced his Bachelor’s degree in jazz saxophone at the Folkwang University of the Arts.
In October 2025, he performed with the NRW Youth Jazz Orchestra at the concerts marking its 50th anniversary, sharing the stage with Max Mutzke, Nils Landgren and Götz Alsmann. In December 2025, he took part in the ‘Xmas Jazznight’ at the JazzSchmiede, alongside Peter Weiss, Peter Baumgärtner, Thomas Rückert, Jörg Kaufmann and Rainer Witzel, amongst others. From November 2025 to February 2026, further studio recordings followed with various line-ups.