Each year the Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF) awards a significant commission to an established female instrumentalist/composer working broadly in the area of jazz.
The Take Note recipient in 2026 was violinist, composer and leader Xani Kolac. One of Naarm/Melbourne’s most distinctive musicians, Xani redefines the possibilities of the electric violin within contemporary and improvised music.
At the 2026 MIJF Xani premiered the resultant commission, a deeply personal work called KOŁACZ, rooted in Xani’s family history and exploring ideas around language, belonging and movement.
KOŁACZ brings together an exciting ensemble of collaborators performing together for the first time including Estonian artist Tuulikki Bartosik (accordion, Kannel), Helen Svoboda (double bass, voice, flute) and Justin Olsson (drums, glockenspiel).
On Sunday November 22, PBS will present the recording of this extraordinary concert in its entirety.
Tune in from 8pm as Stars in the Static celebrates this monumental new work from one of Australia’s most revered and progressive instrumentalists.
Find out more information about Take Note here.
Photos by Max Roux
