Lenka Molcanyiova
About
I am a professional saxophonist, recorder player, improviser, composer, and dedicated educator based in NYC. I've been performing globally since the age of ten and have more than a decade of teaching experience. My education includes a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston, as well as Bachelor’s degrees in Early Music (Florence, Leipzig) and Jazz Saxophone (Prague). This dual training in classical/early music and jazz sets me apart, giving me the ability to guide students across genres — from baroque to bebop and beyond. As a performer, I've played on prestigious stages across the globe in a wide range of settings, from early music ensembles to jazz groups, big bands, pop, art-rock, world music and contemporary projects, and I bring that versatility into my teaching. I am passionate about music’s power to inspire creativity, build confidence, and connect people across cultures. Having worked extensively with youth, children, and adults, I adapt my approach to each student’s age, background, and ambitions. Multilingual and internationally experienced, I bring openness, curiosity, and professionalism to every lesson. My goal is to inspire confidence in my students, helping them to unlock their unique musical voice while cultivating skills that last a lifetime.
Teaching Style
My lessons are designed to be engaging, creative, and structured around your personal goals. A typical session might begin with warm-ups and technical work, followed by repertoire, improvisation or composition and end with reflection and practical strategies for your practice.
I combine solid instrumental technique with improvisation, ear training, and composition, helping you to not only improve your skills but also to develop as a complete musician - if that is your goal. However, if you just want to explore the instruments, deep dive into music theory or learn something new for the curiosity and fun - it's all fine with me!
I teach saxophone, recorder, improvisation (on any instrument), music theory, ear training, composition (jazz and counterpoint), songwriting, and arranging. Lessons are available for beginners through advanced students, from children exploring music for the first time to conservatory-level performers seeking to refine their artistry. My approach is flexible: while some students prefer a structured path through technique, repertoire, and theory, others focus on creativity, improvisation, or personal projects.
I offer lessons online worldwide as well as in person in New York City (Ridgewood, Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, and other Brooklyn or Manhattan locations can be discussed).
I also teach in English, Italian, Slovak, and Czech (fluent), with additional options in French, German (conversational), and Spanish (basic).
No matter your level, age, or language, my aim is to make music lessons fun, inspiring, and transformative.
Credentials & Affiliations
Lenka Molčányiová is an award-winning, saxophonist and recorder player, multi-genre improviser, composer & educator from Bratislava, Slovakia, currently based in New York City.
She graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston with her Master’s degree in Jazz Performance in May 2025. At NEC she studied with legends like Jerry Bergonzi, Donny McCaslin, Nasheet Waits, Frank Carlberg, Kalia Vandever and played in ensembles couched by Jason Moran, Anna Webber and Dominique Eade. She participated in a masterclass with Dave Holland and a residency with Tim Berne, performed at the renowned Panama Jazz Festival in 2024 and a was a part of the first NEC teaching residency in Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans in 2025. At the annual Commencement Ceremony Lenka received a special Spark Award for her Entrepreneurial musicianship project with her jazz recorder (see @recorderfox on Instagram).
With roots as a prodigious ten-year-old recorder player from Slovakia, Lenka garnered attention by performing solo with string chamber orchestras across Central / Eastern and Western Europe.
Discovered on the Slovak TV show "Mini Talent," she secured funding for a Summer jazz workshop in the Czech Republic, learning from jazz recorder maestro Jiri Stivin. Lenka's talent, evident in YouTube videos with nearly 2 million views, led her to study in Italy with her future professor, David Bellugi.
Fusing baroque and jazz influences during her studies in Florence, Leipzig, and Prague, Lenka completed her Bachelor's in recorder and early music in 2017. As a recorder player, she gained acclaim in Italy and international competitions with the Florence-based trio "Chicas del David."
In the realm of jazz, Lenka, a saxophonist, earned award for the outstanding soloist at the International Big Band Competition in the Netherlands in 2019. A pivotal member of the Tibor Feledi Kairos Quintet, their debut CD, "Common Playgrounds," was honored as the best jazz album in the 2018 Radio Head Awards.
In 2020, Lenka founded the Baroque Goes Jazz Trio, presenting a unique fusion of jazz and baroque music. The trio performed at the prestigious Viva Musica! festival, City Sounds festival and at Vyšehrad in Prague. Later she performed her baroque-jazz repertoire with her Boston trio and bigger ensemble at the Commencement Concert at the New England Conservatory in May 2025.
Beyond performing, Lenka is an active educator as a co-founder of a Slovak music educational non-profit Music Beyond Borders, as a faculty member of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, teaching artist for Midori & Friends and a private teacher at Simona School of Music.