Award-winning composer, band leader, singer and storyteller Monta
Tupčijenko writes harmonically saturated polyphonic music with folk,
classical and jazz influences. Born in Latvia and now residing in
Germany, Monta has been composing music for solo piano, choirs, a
cappella groups, jazz bands and orchestras, big bands and large
crossover ensembles. International critics call Tupčijenko “pushing
the boundaries of contemporary jazz, while still keeping enough
traditional elements to feel comfortable”.

In the end of 2024 Monta received the Gerhard Trede Young
Composer award, being appraised by the German jury and listeners.
In the beginning of 2025 spent a couple of days in the recording
studio in Hamburg with the NDR Big Band to conduct and sing her
original compositions. In April of 2025 Monta’s arrangement of a
Latvian folk song was performed at the “Ethno + Jazz, vol.7” concert
during the Contemporary music festival “deciBels” in Riga,
meanwhile the “Feminale” festival in Hamburg featured composer’s
concert program specially written for a big band and vocals, as well
as a female vocal quartet and large ensemble.

As versatile as her music is, Monta is open to any creative
collaborations you can offer, especially interested in singing and
composing for large ensemble forms.

Recent Interviews:

NDR Big Band Magazine on the recent recording of Monta’s
compositions (DE)

Latvian Radio 3 “Klasika” interviewing Monta in “Jazz Impressions” (LV)

“The Baltic Times” on recording Monta’s original music with NDR Big
Band (ENG)

“Music Export Latvia” on Monta’s recording with NDR Big Band (LV)

JAZZin.lv magazine on Monta Tupčijenko’s creative path (ENG)

Delfi.lv on Monta winning the Gerhard Trede’s Award (LV)

Interview in Newspaper “Diena” (LV)

“an intricate combination of jazz,

new age, contemporary classical,

and traditional folk music”

"Happy Together" written by Kalle Kalima and

arranged by Monta Tupčijenko for large ensemble consisting:

Clarinet Bb, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone / Clarinet Bb,
Flute, Tenor Saxophone / Bass Clarinet / Bassoon /

Trumpet, Flugelhorn / Trombone / Harp / Jazz Guitar /
Synthesizer / Piano / Double Bass / Drums /

Percussion / Violin 1, 2 / Viola 1, 2

The composition was played and recorded live

• at the Jazz Hall Hamburg on November 25, 2023.

Current projects: Composing for the Ethno+Jazz, Vol. 7
concert at the deciBels festival in Riga, Latvia; performing
original music with the HfMT Bigband, vocal quartet, and
large ensemble at the Feminale festival in Hamburg,
Germany.

Previously, she was one of four composers selected for
the Berlin Youth Jazz Orchestra (BJJO) project Spot on
Female/Flinta Composers and participated in European
Composers Vol. 2 with the Subway Jazz Orchestra; also
released the single All In and wrote for Jazzkombinat
Hamburg and the NDR Bigband.

2025

2024