Goodbye NICA artists of 2022

For four of our treasured artists the time accompanied by NICA artist development comes to an end.

After three very successful years the NICA artist generation of 2022 - Luise Volkmann, Sophie Emilie Beha, Fabian Dudek and Rebekka Salomea - will make their way to new frontiers.

To mark their goodbye, each artist will play a last concert throughout the rest of this year. For their appearances as NICA artists on the stage of Club JAKI each one of them prepared a particular special program – premieres one shouldn’t be missing out on.

We are delighted to invite you to these special concerts and to showcase what the four artists of the NICA Generation 2022 have planned next:

29.09. Rebekka Salomea – vocalist

27.10. Luise Volkmann - saxophonist (album release show)

24.11. Sophie Emilie Beha - curator, vocalist

15.12. Fabian Dudek - saxophonist

All of these artists have established themselves during their time with NICA through different means: All four went on research trips beyond Europe, expanding their international networks, creative ideas and collaborations. NICA has supported album releases and tours, coaching in different aspects of artist life, content production, and provided in-depth counseling to ensure the individual development of their careers. In addition, we have cooperated with international institutions, such as BIMHUIS Amsterdam, RAUW Festival Rotterdam, or INTL Jazzplatform Poland (many inaugurated by the EJN) to create playing opportunities and commissioned compositions, as well as giving the first curator in the program the infrastructure and insight to bring her own festival idea into life. We are most excited to see what all four are up to next. 

Sophie Emilie Beha, the first curator of the support programme, is ending her time at NICA with an ongoing concert series called ritual. Taking place on the first day of every month, the evening always begins with a walk through Cologne’s Stadtgarten park and focuses on the sensory experience of music and uniquely designed performances.

A research trip to L.A. concludes the funding period for singer, composer and bandleader Rebekka Salomea. This follows on from a stay in 2023, which was already supported by NICA. While working on new material and her solo programme following the release of her album ‘Good Life’ in October 2024, which she will present at her last NICA live concert, SALOMEA continues to expand her internationally established network with her trip.

Saxophonist, bandleader and composer Luise Volkmann is marking her departure from NICA in no less emotional fashion with the release of her album ‘The Stories We Tell’, performed by her large ensemble Été Large. Released on 3 October 2025, the musician is presenting the project for her final NICA live date at Club JAKI, located in the Stadtgarten. She already celebrated a release at her last concert at JAKI: in 2024, she released the album ‘Enxame’ in a duo with Brazilian guitarist Kiko Dinucci and went on a mini tour this year, which not least underlines her ambitions and successes in the international music context.

Last but not least, saxophonist, composer and bandleader Fabian Dudek has also demonstrated his drive during his three years in the support programme. He will be bringing his quartet Almost, formed at NICA live with Leif Berger (drums), Felix Hauptmann (piano) and London-based bassist Ruth Goller, not only to his final concert as a NICA artist at JAKI, but also to other stages across Europe. Dudek recently shone with an international band at Cologne Jazzweek 2025: with his commissioned composition ‘Night by Night’, he completes his cycle (‘Day by Day’) for the Cologne festival, which he began in 2022 – listen to ‘Night by Night’ here on Deutschlandfunk.

We are proud and happy to have had the chance to accompany these exceptional musicians on their journey and be witnesses to their growth.

👉 Save the Date: We want you to also save the date for NICA live special and the 15th edition of Winterjazz Köln in the very beginning of 2026 at Stadtgarten Köln:

NICA live special – 8th & 9th January 2026

15th Winterjazz – 10th January 2026