Pomôžte rozbehnúť prvú sezónu Slovenského národného jazzového orchestra

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Slovenský národný jazzový orchester vstupuje do svojej prvej koncertnej sezóny.

Chceme ju vybudovať spolu s ľuďmi, ktorým záleží na budúcnosti orchestrálneho jazzu na Slovensku.

Na Slovensku má tradícia veľkých orchestrov svoje korene v orchestroch Slovenského rozhlasu a Slovenskej televízie.

Tieto telesá významne ovplyvnili vývoj populárnej hudby, swingu aj jazzu a vytvorili priestor pre mnohých špičkových hudobníkov.

Po ich zániku v roku 1993 na Slovensku nevznikla profesionálna inštitúcia, ktorá by sa systematicky venovala orchestrálnemu jazzu a nadviazala na model veľkých rozhlasových, televíznych či národných jazzových orchestrov, aké sú bežnou súčasťou kultúrneho života vo viacerých európskych krajinách.

Práve preto vznikol Slovenský národný jazzový orchester (SNJO).

SNJO je profesionálny 18-členný big band, ktorého cieľom je vybudovať stabilnú platformu pre orchestrálny jazz na Slovensku.

Chceme pravidelne uvádzať diela slovenských autorov, objednávať nové skladby, spolupracovať s domácimi aj zahraničnými umelcami a vytvárať priestor pre špičkových slovenských jazzových hudobníkov.

Prvým krokom je koncertná sezóna 2026/2027.

Čo pripravujeme?

Prvá koncertná sezóna prinesie desať rezidenčných koncertov v Bratislave, v priestoroch V-Klubu, s poprednými slovenskými aj zahraničnými umelcami, premiéry nových diel a programy venované významným osobnostiam svetového jazzu.

Medzi hosťami budú napríklad Tony Lakatoš, Peter Lipa, Radovan Tariška či Daniel Caccia.

Dramaturgia prinesie aj pocty významným autorom, ako sú Bob Mintzer, Don Sebesky, Thad Jones, Rob McConnell, Bill Holman a Gordon Goodwin, svetové premiéry diel súčasných skladateľov aj autorský večer Juraja Bartoša a Andyho Middletona.

Každý koncert bude súčasťou dramaturgicky pripravenej sezóny, ktorá predstaví rôzne podoby orchestrálneho jazzu – od diel slovenských autorov až po významné skladby svetového jazzového repertoáru.

Súčasťou sezóny budú aj ďalšie vystúpenia SNJO v slovenských mestách, ktoré však nie sú predmetom tejto crowdfundingovej kampane.

Cieľom prvej sezóny nie je iba uskutočniť sériu koncertov, ale položiť základy pravidelnej činnosti profesionálneho jazzového orchestra na Slovensku.

A práve pri tomto prvom kroku potrebujeme vašu pomoc.

Prečo crowdfunding?

SNJO nevznikol ako štátna inštitúcia.

Vznikol z iniciatívy profesionálnych hudobníkov, ktorí veria, že Slovensko si zaslúži vlastný národný jazzový orchester.

Keďže sa nám doteraz nepodarilo získať potrebnú grantovú a inštitucionálnu podporu, rozhodli sme sa prvú koncertnú sezónu uskutočniť vlastnými silami a s podporou ľudí, ktorým záleží na budúcnosti slovenskej jazzovej kultúry.

Vybudovať takýto orchester však znamená vytvoriť kompletné profesionálne zázemie.

Každý koncert si vyžaduje prenájom priestorov, skúšobní, technické zabezpečenie, notové materiály, propagáciu a organizačnú podporu.

Preto sa obraciame na vás.

Vaším príspevkom nepodporujete iba desať koncertov prvej sezóny.

Pomáhate vytvoriť základy profesionálnej kultúrnej inštitúcie, ktorá môže dlhodobo rozvíjať orchestrálny jazz na Slovensku, podporovať domácich autorov a interpretov a reprezentovať Slovensko doma aj v zahraničí.

Ak veríte, že aj Slovensko má mať svoj národný jazzový orchester, budeme vďační za každú podporu.

Ďakujeme, že ste pri zrode novej kapitoly slovenského jazzu.

Be Part of SNJO’s Inaugural Concert Season

The Slovak National Jazz Orchestra is about to begin its very first concert season.

We want to build it together with people who care about the future of orchestral jazz in Slovakia.

Slovakia’s tradition of large orchestras dates back to the orchestras of Slovak Radio and Slovak Television.

These ensembles played a major role in the development of popular music, swing, and jazz, while providing opportunities for generations of outstanding musicians. Since their dissolution in 1993, Slovakia has not had a professional institution dedicated to orchestral jazz that continues the tradition of the large radio, television, and national jazz orchestras that remain an integral part of cultural life in many European countries.

That is why the Slovak National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) was established. SNJO is a professional 18-piece big band whose mission is to build a stable platform for orchestral jazz in Slovakia. Our goal is to regularly perform works by Slovak composers, commission new music, collaborate with leading Slovak and international artists, and create opportunities for the country’s finest jazz musicians. The first step is our 2026/2027 concert season. 

What Are We Planning?

Our inaugural concert season will feature ten residency concerts at V-Klub in Bratislava, showcasing leading Slovak and international artists, world premieres of new works, and programmes dedicated to some of the most influential figures in jazz. Guest artists will include Tony Lakatoš, Peter Lipa, Radovan Tariška, and Daniel Caccia.

The season will also pay tribute to renowned composers and arrangers such as Bob Mintzer, Don Sebesky, Thad Jones, Rob McConnell, Bill Holman, and Gordon Goodwin, present world premieres by contemporary composers, and feature a special composers’ concert dedicated to Juraj Bartoš and Andy Middleton.

Each concert is part of a carefully curated season designed to showcase the many dimensions of orchestral jazz—from works by Slovak composers to landmark pieces from the international jazz repertoire. In addition to the residency series, SNJO will perform in other cities across Slovakia.

These performances, however, are not part of this crowdfunding campaign. The goal of our first season is not simply to present a series of concerts. It is to lay the foundations for a professional jazz orchestra with a regular concert programme in Slovakia. And this is exactly where we need your support.

Why Crowdfunding?

SNJO was not founded as a state institution. It was created through the initiative of professional musicians who believe that Slovakia deserves its own national jazz orchestra. As we have not yet secured the grant funding and institutional support needed to launch the project, we have decided to make our first concert season possible through our own efforts and with the support of people who care about the future of Slovak jazz. Building an orchestra like this means creating an entire professional infrastructure from the ground up. Every concert involves venue rental, rehearsal spaces, technical production, sheet music, marketing, and organisational support. That is why we are turning to you. Your contribution does more than support the ten concerts of our inaugural season. It helps lay the foundations for a professional cultural institution that can foster orchestral jazz in Slovakia for years to come, support Slovak composers and performers, and represent Slovakia both at home and abroad. If you believe Slovakia should have its own national jazz orchestra, we would be deeply grateful for your support. Thank you for being part of the beginning of a new chapter in Slovak jazz.

Who Is Behind This Campaign?

The Slovak National Jazz Orchestra was founded by trumpeter, composer, and educator Lukáš Oravec, together with eighteen leading jazz musicians and a dedicated team responsible for the orchestra’s artistic and organisational direction.

SNJO is the result of years of steady development and long-term commitment. Over the past seven years, the Lukáš Oravec Orchestra has laid the groundwork for what has now become SNJO. During that time, a strong artistic ensemble was formed, an experienced team was built, an organisational structure was established, and valuable partnerships were developed both in Slovakia and internationally. The Lukáš Oravec Orchestra served as a space where the experience, relationships, and foundations necessary for a larger professional ensemble could gradually take shape. It became the platform on which the Slovak National Jazz Orchestra could be built. Although the project was initiated and is artistically led by Lukáš Oravec, SNJO is the result of a shared vision and the collective work of the orchestra’s musicians and leadership team.

Without their expertise, dedication, and collaboration, this vision could never have become a reality. SNJO is therefore not the project of a single individual, but the outcome of a journey that has grown organically over many years of artistic work.

How Will the Funds Be Used? 

Building a new professional orchestra is about much more than putting on a single concert. It means creating the conditions for a sustainable, long-term concert season.

The funds raised through this campaign will help cover orchestra rehearsals, venue hire, concert production, technical equipment, sheet music, new arrangements, travel, accommodation for musicians, marketing, and the post-production of concert recordings.

Crowdfunding will not cover all of the orchestra’s operating costs. What it will do is provide a solid foundation for our first concert season and significantly reduce the financial risk involved in establishing a new cultural institution. Every additional funding milestone we reach will allow us to take the project one step further—from ensuring the orchestra’s basic operation to enhancing concert production, creating high-quality audio and video recordings, and collaborating with distinguished guest artists.

Your support is an investment in more than just one season. It is an investment in a platform that can serve Slovak musicians and audiences for many years to come.

Our Funding Milestones

€2,000 – Launching Our First Season Your support will help cover the essential costs of getting the orchestra up and running, including rehearsal and concert venue hire, so that our inaugural season can begin.

€6,000 – Preparing the Season This milestone will help fund orchestra rehearsals, sheet music, and other essential costs involved in preparing the concerts.

€10,000 – Professional Concert Production We’ll be able to provide the technical infrastructure, production, and other key resources needed to present every concert at a professional standard.

€15,000 – Keeping the Music Alive Beyond the Stage This milestone will allow us to professionally record concerts and create videos, podcasts, and other content, helping SNJO reach audiences far beyond the concert hall.

€25,000 – A Stronger First Season With this level of support, we’ll be able to help cover travel, accommodation, arrangements, sheet music, and part of the costs associated with featuring both Slovak and international guest artists.

€35,000 – Building a Lasting Foundation This milestone will help fund the delivery of our entire inaugural season and create more stable conditions for the long-term future of the Slovak National Jazz Orchestra.