Hania Derej

Derej Hanna

Year the scholarship was awarded:

2024

Area of expertise

Arts

Composer, pianist, arranger, and conductor. She studies symphonic conducting at the Academy of Music in Kraków and jazz composition and arranging at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. At the time of applying, she had already composed over 100 works and released 7 albums, and had received numerous awards, including the “Young Composer” Award (2021 and 2022) from the Polish Composers’ Union. As a conductor, she has collaborated with ensembles such as the National Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, the Elbląg Chamber Orchestra, and the Moravian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. She has participated in international music projects such as FAMES Orchestra and International Jazz Platform, performing at music festivals and in concert clubs.

She currently has over 150 compositions and 10 albums to her name. She is a recipient of numerous composition and performance awards, including a nomination for the Koryfeusz Muzyki Polskiej in the “Discovery of the Year” category, the double Grand Prix of the Ladies’ Jazz Festival 2025 in Gdynia (Jury and Audience Awards), the Main Prize in the SANKI Gazety Wyborczej 2025 poll with the title “new hope of Polish music,” the Main Prize of the “Jazz Talents” competition within Wiosna Jazzowa Zakopane 2025, the “Hope of Music Lovers of the Year 2024” award within Grand Prix Jazz Melomani in Łódź, the TRYTON Grand Prize for the greatest artistic personality of the FAMA Festival 2024 in Świnoujście, as well as the Special Prize for jazz composition and arrangement at the Junior Jazz Festival 2023 in Wadowice. Hania maintains an intensive concert activity across various musical projects and ensembles, performing at numerous major music festivals, including Pol’and’Rock Festival, OFF Festival, Męskie Granie, SXSW in Austin, Iceland Airwaves in Iceland, Ment Festival Ljubljana, Riga Music Week in Riga, Sharpe Festival Bratislava, Manchester Jazz Festival, and the Euro Jazz Festival Mexico City.

Hania participates in numerous charity concerts, supporting various fundraising initiatives for social causes. She has performed, among others, at Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy, where she appeared with a quintet, as well as at events such as the Metropolitan Christmas Eve for the Lonely and the Easter Breakfast for the Lonely. As part of her charitable activities, she donates her albums and concert performances to be auctioned for fundraising purposes.