
Short bio
Mária Reháková is a flautist, singer, and composer from Bratislava, Slovakia, blending her folkloric music heritage with jazz harmony and ideology. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music in London, she has held the flute chair for the UK’s National Youth Jazz Orchestra, showcasing her talent at esteemed venues such as Ronnie Scott’s and Kings Place. Mária's London-based sextet, TOPOL'ANA, has gained recognition for its innovative fusion of jazz improvisation with Slovak folk melodies, enriching the vibrant London jazz scene. Currently studying at the prestigious Berklee College of Music’s Global Jazz Institute, she is developing a new EP that addresses Slovakia's political landscape and national identity. This project aims to inspire dialogue on self-expression and cultural openness. As co-founder of the not-for-profit Za hranice s hudbou, Mária is dedicated to expanding music education in Slovakia, focusing on genres that are often underrepresented, such as jazz, pop, and electronic music.
Mária Reháková is a flautist, singer, and composer who presents the folkloric sounds of her Slovak heritage through a rich lens of jazz harmony, groove, and ideology. Her music captures influences from cities she has called home—Bratislava, London, Barcelona, and now Boston—blending her past and present into forward-looking music that unifies flute and voice in vibrant expression. Mária held the flute chair for the UK’s National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and performed at iconic venues and major festivals including Ronnie Scott’s, The Barbican, Bratislava Jazz Days, and the Cambridge Jazz Festival. She is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and the winner of the JazzStartUp 2022 prize.
Mária's musical journey began in a Slovak folklore group, where she developed a deep appreciation for her cultural roots, later infusing these influences into her jazz-focused projects. Her London-based sextet, TOPOĽANA, reflects this evolution—a jazz folk fusion ensemble bridging tradition and modernity. Known for its unique blend of jazz improvisation and Slovak folk melodies, TOPOĽANA has established a distinctive voice in the London jazz scene. British jazz flautist Gareth Lockrane describes Mária as having 'a strong individual voice as a flautist, singer, and composer, featuring highly inventive compositions and arrangements for the unusual flute/sax/clarinet frontline.'
Currently, Mária is furthering her studies at the prestigious Berklee College of Music’s Global Jazz Institute in Boston, supported by a full-tuition scholarship. At Berklee, she is developing a new EP that explores Slovakia’s complex political landscape and its identity as a young nation within Europe. The project addresses themes of cultural self-esteem, national expression, and openness to external influences. Drawing on Slovak folk roots alongside jazz and featuring an international ensemble, Mária hopes this work will bridge cultural divides and inspire her audience to embrace diversity and connection.
Beyond her performance work, Mária is committed to advancing music education in Slovakia as the co-founder of Za hranice s hudbou (Music Beyond Borders), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to genres underrepresented in Slovakia, including jazz, pop, and electronic music. Leading a team focused on workshops, summer schools, and online courses, she envisions establishing the country’s first Jazz & Contemporary Music College. Her artistic journey is further enriched by collaborations with her father, painter Pavol Rehák, as she continues to bridge cultures and share new narratives through her music.
Long bio
