German jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer Sebastian Studnitzky successfully works in multiple genres, expanding his artistic horizons. One of his recent projects, Memento Odesa, demonstrates a deep emotional connection with the people of Ukraine. In this article, we will share the story about this great musician, his career, achievements, and contributions to the world’s jazz.
Sebastian Studnitzky: Biography and Vision
Sebastian was born into a musical family — his father Norbert Studnitzky is a German conductor and composer. Surrounded by an artistic atmosphere, he started his acquaintance with music at the age of four, when he began to play the piano. Four years later, he started mastering another instrument — the trumpet. Sebastian deepened his skills in playing both piano and trumpet in the Jazz & Pop Department of the Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts. In addition to that, Sebastian also studied film music and commercial arranging at the Berklee College of Music in the USA.
Curiosity drives the musician throughout his career, allowing Studnitzky to explore various genres and offer new meanings to a wider audience. He successfully blends classical, jazz, and electronic music, where his brilliant piano playing combines with his unique trumpet style. Curiosity also results in various projects he engages in. Studnitzky delights audiences, performing with many talented musicians such as Michael Paukner, Sandie Wollasch, Tommy Baldu, Studnitzky/Trio, Paul Kleber, Tim Sarhan, Laurenz Karsten.
Famous Projects
Sebastian collaborated in a duo with pianist Omer Klein. It happened almost by chance. At first, they were booked to play a duo concert in Usingen, but soon discovered that their music flowed effortlessly and there were no boundaries between them. This marked the beginning of their journey into the unknown and continued as a newly formed duo, presenting audiences with their own compositions and the music of their favorite artists.
As a pianist, he played with clarinetist Sebastian Manz. Their famous creation "A Bernstein Story" won many listeners’ hearts as it was much more than a crossover. Together, they performed works of Leonard Bernstein, bringing the vibe of the 2020s into the music. Studnitzky contributed to the music with his improvisations distorted with electronic sounds and loops, while Manz’s clarinet sang and beat solo over electronic soundscapes. Using minimal music, two musicians recreated the nervous vibes of Manhattan, as well as offering melancholy and exuberance in their tunes.
Sebastian is also known for his collaboration with Ukrainian pianist Andrii Pokaz. Having met under a challenging situation, together they managed to celebrate perfect improvised art where Studnitzky’s personal and emotional sound complements Andrii Pokaz’s ability to transcend jazz, classical, and electronic genres.
Each of Sebastian’s projects provides audiences with a unique experience, where one can feel the balance of timeless and contemporary vibes. As one of the most versatile musicians, Sebastian has been awarded the ECHO Jazz and the Opus Klassik.
However, Studnitzky is not only a musician and performer — he is also the founder of the XJAZZ! festivals, where he builds bridges between various genres and cultures.
Memento Odesa
One of Studnitzky's most extraordinary projects, Memento Odesa, was created as a dedication to the city of Odesa and its citizens who live under challenging conditions. The musician actively supported the Ukrainian people from the beginning of the full-scale war. During 2024–2025, he gave a series of charity concerts “Memento Odesa”, offering the audience deeply emotional music combining memories of the past, the fragility of the present and the anxiety for the future. Such an approach perfectly conveyed the vibe of Odesa people who were forced to live under constant fire. Moreover, Memento Odesa offered a chance to tell the story about the unusual and deeply human side of the war through music.
The project wasn’t possible without Anastasiia Pokaz, a cultural manager and singer from Odesa, who lived in Berlin and worked as a creative producer for the XJAZZ! Festival. Together with Sebastian they gave birth to the idea of the MEMENTO ODESA.
It was a pure charity tour, with funds raised towards tactical medicine for Ukrainian defenders. Sebastian recorded his music in Odesa Philharmonic Hall with its resident orchestra of 45 musicians under the baton of Volodymyr Dykyi.
Sebastian’s new KY! album, known for a perfect blend of jazz, classical and cinematic elements, features footage from a live performance at Berlin's Memorial Church and recordings by the orchestra of the Odesa Philharmonic. This proves a deep emotional connection with Ukrainian people and a strong bond to Odesa created during Memento Odesa.
During his subsequent tours since 2024, Sebastian visited 23 cities in Germany and gave six concerts in Odesa, Kyiv, and Lviv, performing on the stages of well-known venues including the Odesa Philharmonic Hall, the Staatsschauspiel Dresden, the Gedächtniskirche Berlin, the Berlin Philharmonie, and the Laeiszhalle Hamburg. Listeners warmly welcomed these concerts, helping raise more than €60,000 in donations.
These were not just performances but a cultural mission that showcased the unity of European artists with Ukraine. Through his creative works, Sebastian expresses his solidarity with the people of Ukraine. His performances with Ukrainian musicians help popularize Ukrainian culture in Europe.
Sebastian Studnitzky and Maksim Gopanchuk
The founder of KGUmusic Maksim Gopanchuk met Sebastian Studnitzky during his visit to Odesa. This meeting became a symbol of respect between two musicians united by the love of brass instruments and of music as an art in general.
In gratitude for his brilliant performance and sincere support for Ukrainian people in these disturbing times, the KGUmusic company has handcrafted the unique Obsidian flugelhorn specially for Sebastian. The musician brought its voice to life during the MEMENTO ODESA concert in Lviv.
The flugelhorn for Studnitzky stands out with its unique design, developed by the KGUmusic team to match the musician’s sound and style. It became not just an appealing instrument but a symbol of the unity of art, technology, and humanity. It also emphasizes the friendship between Ukraine and Europe.
Final Word
The story of Sebastian Studnitzky is a story about the unique talent and curiosity to explore diversity in music. His interest in various styles resulted in many interesting projects, one of which is Memento Odesa, created as a dedication to Odesa and the people of Ukraine in hard times. Sebastian proves the power of art to tell a heartfelt story about people and war, as well as the ability to be strong and united through music.
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