The Janoska Ensemble is an instrumental group founded by the Janoska brothers, natives of Bratislava. It consists of František Janoska (piano), Ondrej Janoska and Roman Janoska (violins), as well as their brother-in-law Julius Darvas (double bass). All members received their classical musical education at leading conservatories and music universities in Vienna, which strongly shaped their artistic foundation. Today, two of the brothers live in Bratislava, while the other two are based in Vienna, where the group also develops many of its artistic projects.
The ensemble’s repertoire is rooted primarily in classical music, which they reinterpret in their unique Janoska Style. Characterized by original arrangements, exceptional virtuosity, and spontaneous improvisation, their music combines classical works with elements of jazz, Latin, pop, and world music. In addition to their arrangements, the ensemble places strong emphasis on original compositions.
Founded in 2013, the ensemble quickly established itself on the international concert scene. In 2016, they released their debut album Janoska Style with Deutsche Grammophon, receiving a gold record. Their second album, Revolution (2019), also achieved gold status, followed by The Big B’s (2022) and The Four Seasons in Janoska Style (2024).
Over the years, the ensemble has received multiple international awards, including the Crystal Wing Award in Slovakia and the prestigious Tatra Banka Foundation Art Award, among others, recognizing both their artistic excellence and their innovative contributions to contemporary classical music.
The ensemble has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including the Wiener Musikverein (Goldener Saal), Carnegie Hall in New York, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Seoul Arts Center. They have also collaborated with renowned orchestras such as the Berliner Symphoniker and the Wiener Symphoniker.
Alongside their concert activities, the musicians are deeply engaged in educational work focused on creativity, improvisation, and the development of a personal musical language. This includes teaching and masterclasses at institutions and festivals such as Frühling in Wien, the Salzburg Festival, the Kronberg Academy & Festival, various music academies in Germany, as well as teaching activities in Hong Kong and at the Menuhin Festival Gstaad in Switzerland.
In this context, they also teach the so-called Janoska Style, an approach that emphasizes freedom, spontaneity, and improvisation in music, which they actively pass on to young musicians and students.
The ensemble has collaborated and performed with internationally renowned singers including Elīna Garanča, Rolando Villazón, Bobby McFerrin, Thomas Hampson, Anna Netrebko, Juan Diego Flórez, and Al Jarreau.
They have also shared the stage with internationally acclaimed instrumentalists such as Richard Galliano, Michel Camilo, Julian Rachlin, and Biréli Lagrène, as well as renowned composers including Randy Newman and Lalo Schifrin.