Roland Danyi
Which musician has influenced you the most personally so far? Definitely John Coltrane. He plays a crucial role for me when it comes to honesty in music, closely followed by Tony Lakatós, my dad, Roland Danyi, Michael Brecker and Steve Grossman.
Which band or soloist have you always wanted to share the stage with? If I could, I’d love to play a gig with Tony Lakatós, and if John Coltrane were still alive, with him too, of course. Apart from those two, I’d absolutely love to play with Brian Blade on drums, because his playing really inspires me.
What’s your life like outside of music? I really love spending time with my family – we sit together and listen to music together. I love that very much. I also really enjoy spending time with my friends – just going for a walk or popping into a bar or something like that. And one of the things I love doing most is spending time with my wonderful girlfriend. Because she always gives me an incredible energy boost when I need one. And I can really switch off when I’m with her.
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 preparatory course at the Detmold University of Music, where he studied the oboe with Prof. József Kiss. In 2022, he also took part in a musical exchange 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 regional competition, qualifying for the national competition. At the national competition, the band received the concert prize (Jazz Baltica) as well as the Deutsche Grammophon studio prize. In the same year, Funky Friends were also 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 with Uwe Plath. In November 2023, he went on a tour of China with Quintessenz and took part in a concert tour in China. Since March 2024, he has been a permanent member of the JugendJazzOrchester NRW, having previously performed with them on several occasions as a temporary member. In October 2024, he also began his Bachelor’s degree in jazz saxophone at the Folkwang University of the Arts.
In October 2025, he performed with the JugendJazzOrchester NRW at the concerts marking the orchestra’s 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. On 24 December 2025, he also performed at the annual family Christmas concert in Bad Sassendorf. From November 2025 to February 2026, further studio recordings followed with various line-ups: as part of several bands and combos, he worked on productions and recordings in various studios.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
25 March 2005 . Born in Hungary
EDUCATION
2024 – 2026 . Folkwang University of the Arts, Essen . Bachelor of Arts, . Department of Jazz Saxophone
2021–2023 . Hubertus Schwartz Vocational College, Soest . Apprenticeship in Business and Administration . Not completed.
2015–2021 . InI Comprehensive School, Bad Sassendorf
2011–2015 . Sälzer Primary School, Bad Sassendorf
MUSICAL CAREER
Nov 2025 – Feb 2026 . Studio recordings with various bands and ensembles
24 Dec 2025 . Family concert in Bad Sassendorf . Annual Christmas concert with the Danyi family
20 Dec 2025 . Xmas Jazznight . Jazz Schmiede, Düsseldorf
with Peter Weiss, Peter Baumgärtner, Thomas Rückert, Jörg Kaufmann, Rainer Witzel and others
18/24/25 October 2025 . Youth Jazz Orchestra, NRW
50th anniversary concerts with Max Mutzke, Nils Landgren, Götz Alsmann
Permanent member after numerous guest appearances
7 October 2024 . Bachelor of Arts . Jazz Saxophone . Folkwang University, Essen
March 2024 . Youth Jazz Orchestra, NRW
8–13 November 2023 . China tour with Quintessenz . Participant in the cultural exchange in China
February–August 2023 . Student at the Gbja, Dortmund . Musical training with Uwe Plath
February 2023 . Studio recording with Funky Friends . First EP recording with Funky Friends
2022 . Young Jazz Ahead with Funky Friends . Concert Prize . Jazz Club Minden
2022 . Jugend jazzt National Competition with Funky Friends . Concert Prize . Jazz Baltica
Studio Prize, Deutsche Grammophon
2022 . Jugend jazzt with Funky Friends . Regional Competition
First prize, qualifying for the national competition
2022 . Musical exchange to South Africa
with the Soest Music School and the Double Rainbow Project
2021–2022 . Undergraduate studies at the Detmold University of Music
Participation in undergraduate studies under Professor Jószef Kiss . Instrument: oboe
