Donata Key Jan

Donata Januševičiūtė - Pianist, singer, arranger and composer. She started as a classical piano player at National M.K.Čiurlionis school of art in Lithuania. After graduation from it, she knew jazz is going to take a big part of her life. "At that time Jazz was the only way to express my compositions and different style of playing" - said Donata. She applied to Lithuanian academy of music and theater Jazz piano performance class and got accepted. After her first year she was invited to do a short intense erasmus programe in Riga, Latvia. Next semester she is accepted to do erasmus programe in Hannover, Germany.
 Over the first couple years her composition and performance talent began to grow, so did the need to present her ideas using contemporary jazz style. That was how ensamble Kaff was born. That is the main group that she now plays in. 
Competitions and prizes:
2005- National Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Vilnius, Lithuania (Diploma);
2006- National Balys Dvarionas Competition in Vilnius, Lithuania (Laureate);
2007- National Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Vilnius, Lithuania (Laureate);
2008- National Balys Dvarionas Competition in Vilnius, Lithuania 
          (Laureate, Special prize for the best performance of classical work);
2009- National Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Vilnius, Lithuania (Laureate);
2009- “Garažas 2009” Competition for young bands (Final Diploma);
2010- “Blogiukai” Competition for young bands (Final Diploma);
2012- “Vilnius Jazz Young Power” Competition for young bands
          (Special prize for an outstanding interpretation of jazz standard);
2013-  “Garažas 2013“ Competition for young bands.
 
 
 
Masterclasses/Workshops led by:
Francois Corneloup Trio (France), David Berkman, Alex Sipiagin (USA), Nina Seriogina (Russia), Achim Kaufmann, Anne Czichowsky (Germany), Luca Garro (Italy), Fredrik Ljungkvist (Sweden), Tilmar Junius, Pavel Shcherbakov (Netherlands), Søren Kjærgaard (Denmark), Jaak Sooäär (Estonia), Madars Kalnins (Latvia), Vladimir Tarasov, Liutauras Janušaitis, Liudas Mockūnas, Liucija Drasutienė, Giedrė Lukšaitė-Mrazkova, Audronė Kisieliūtė (Lithuania).
 
Bands and projects:
                        Synchro Mates (2008-2010) – Leader, Lead Vocals, Keyboard, Songwriting;
                        Window Seats Project (since 2010) – Lead Vocals;
                        Ladies in Jazz (2011-2012) – Leader, Keyboard;
                        Erykah Badu Project (2012) – Leader, Lead Vocals;
                        Agatos Rytas (2011-2012) – Vocals, Keyboard, Songwriting;
                        Kaf kaf (since 2012) – Leader, Lead Vocals, Keyboard, Composer;
                        The Jam Fam (since 2012) –Keyboard;
                        Jazz Gang Project (since 2012) – Keyboard;
                        Tribute to Jessie J (since 2012) – Backing Vocals;
                        Lithuanian youth of jazz (since 2012) – Keyboard, Vocals;
                        Da’Frontin (since 2013) – Keyboard
                                              
Festivals:        
                since 2010- Eurovision Song Contest, Lithuanian Finals (as Backing vocalist);
                         2011- International Pažaislis Music Festival, Lithuania;
                         2011- Klaipėda Sea Festival, Lithuania;
                         2011-2012  AGATA Summer Camp, Lithuania;
                         2012- Vilnius “Sluškų rūmų” Art Festival, Lithuania;
                         2012- Riga City Festival, Latvia;
                         2012- Sala ’12 Festival, Lithuania;
                         2012- Vilnius Jazz, Lithuania;
                         2012- Vilnius Mama Jazz, Lithuania;
                         2013- Tallinn JazzOn, Estonia
                         2013- Saulkrasti Jazz, Latvia
                         2013- Kėdainiai Jazz, Lithuania
                         2013- Šiauliai Jazz, Lithuania
 
 
Concerts given in most major towns of Lithuania, (including Vilnius City Hall and Vilnius Congress Hall), Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), Hannover, Einbeck (Germany).