Jan Holena

About Jan Holena

Jan Holena is a Czech clarinet, saxophone and piano player living in the UK.

Jan was born in the eastern part of the Czech Republic called Moravian Wallachia in 1992. His musical story began in 2001 when he decided to learn the recorder and piano. It didn't take long and Jan switched to his dream instrument-clarinet. April 2003 marks the first public performance with his grandfather's brass band. Jan immediately became a busy bee playing with various bands across the region and also temporarily added the organ as his third instrument.

Nobody was surprised when he chose to study music at conservatoire and make it his profession. In 2014, Jan received a specialist degree in classical clarinet performance from Janacek Conservatoire in Ostrava. Two years later, he finally picked up the tenor saxophone when he was asked to join a European tour called "Rock Meets Classic". As part of this tour, Jan got to play a saxophone solo with Ricky Warwick and Scott Gorham, members of Thin Lizzy. He couldn't wish for a better start!

The core of Jan's work in the Czech Republic was always performing with traditional Moravian brass bands, but he managed to fit in a lot more-folk rock band Vrkoc, dixieland, rock bands, symphony orchestras, chanson etc. For six years, he also taught woodwind instruments at a local music school.

Jan's life changed drastically in 2019 when he made the decision to leave home and move to the UK. Things were looking bright until the pandemic hit and left Jan with no work. That didn't break him though and as soon as the world started to recover, he embarked on his most exciting musical journey yet. The idea of performing as a solo saxophonist proved to be vital in sustaining a music career in the next few years.

Jan quickly established himself as a versatile and reliable performer and is proud to have had hundreds of happy clients all over the country. He hasn't forgotten his roots though and that's why he launched his own band Holena Swing Company in 2024 with the intention of promoting his clarinet playing. When Jan's busy schedule allows it, he deps in multiple bands especially in the North West on all his instruments.