The Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF) has announced violinist, composer and improviser Xani Kolac as the 2026 leader of the 8th edition of its Take Note program, which supports the development and visibility of women and gender-diverse artists in jazz.

One of Melbourne’s most distinctive contemporary musicians, Kolac has built a reputation for redefining the expressive possibilities of the electric violin.

“The path Xani has carved as an electric violinist makes her quite unlike anyone else in the Australian music landscape,” said CEO and MIJF Program Director Hadley Agrez. “We’re thrilled to have her lead this year’s Take Note program.”

Xani Kolac. Portrait © Oli Sansom

The appointment follows a prolific 2025 for Kolac, marked by the release of two albums. Keep Moving, a studio recording inspired by Krautrock, jazz and rock, earned a nomination for the Australian Music Prize, while Live, recorded at The Jazzlab, captured her improvisational practice in performance. She was also celebrated for An Inaccurate History of Electronic Dance Music, which received a five-star review at the 2025 Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Kolac’s international appearances include Classical:NEXT in Berlin, Tallinn Music Week and SXSW London, as well as an artist residency at MONOM Studios in Berlin.

In Australia, she has performed at RISING, Dark Mofo, Brisbane Festival and the Melbourne Recital Centre, and was named Best Musician at the 2022 Music Victoria Awards.

Kolac said she was “over the moon” to be selected as the 2026 Take Note Leader, describing the program as a rare opportunity to develop ambitious new work with sustained support.

For more information on Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2026, visit this link.