Meet these excellent music professionals, the best of their field, our experts who took part at MOST as a trainer, mentor, advisor and accompanied the participants on this exciting journey. We are grateful for all of them for joining the project, sharing their knowledge and wisdom and supported these young talents in every possible way!
Tino Grasselt founded his internationally oriented music agency "Tomato Production" in 2013 with which he supervises bands and musicians in the field of booking, promotion and management. Tino Grasselt regularly participates in worldwide music conferences as an exhibitor, delegate or panel speaker, making him a recognized world music expert. Among the international artists of Tomato Production are many acts from East European countries like Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Musician, record producer, and co-founder of Glitterbeat Records, a label “built upon sounds and artists that transcend cultural pre-conceptions and genre specificity”. Over the last 25 years Eckman’s band, The Walkabouts released nearly 20 albums. He produced over thirty albums for artists like Tamikrest, Aziza Brahim, and more.
Hilda Sandgren founded MTA Production AB in 2000 after many years of music and theater experience. She started and ran the Stockholm Folk Festival, Hesselby Chamber Festival, and Christmas in Folkton. Hilda specializes in artistic project management, booking and international collaborations within MTA. She teaches and lectures at the Royal Academy of Music. During the pandemic, Hilda was first on the scene to coin the term “quarantine culture” in Sweden and has produced 95 live streams with donations and pay per view.
Aysun Karadogan is a manager, producer and booking agent. Born in a small Kurdish town in Eastern Turkey, she grew up in Istanbul and lives in Germany. She’s been managing Aynur since 2004 and has also been involved in many international projects, such as Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble, Riccardo Muti, and more.
Urszula Nowak is a music journalist and manager. She’s a a board member and co-organiser of Pannonica Folk Festival, presenting music from the old Pannonia region. As a freelance journalist she writes about music in major national folk and jazz magazines. Since 2011 she hosts the world & jazz music radio programme Balkanera.
Nick Hobbs is the owner of artist agency Charmworks and a concert promoter. Aside from his professional work, he’s an artist in his own right – writing, directing and performing in music, theatre and dance. He gives dance, theatre and yoga classes and workshops, and music-related lectures. He’s a green activist.
Larisa Perde co-founded Vinyl, Rum, Tapas & Wine, an independent management and booking agency in Bucharest. They host a variety of Romanian and international artists from vinyl-only or digital DJs to live acts, world music, funk, jazz, soul, bossa-nova, tropical, disco, and more. VRTW is also a promoter, they hold over 50 events a year.
Juliana Volož started as a band manager and booking agent in 2005. In 2007 she opened booking agency JV-Promotion. Currently she is booking 13 international world music bands. Juliana has co-organized international music projects, showcase festivals offers mentoring programs for emerging artists, agents and managers. Juliana is also one of the founder members of Association of Global Independent Music Agents.
Balazs Weyer is the programme director of Hangvető, host of WOMEX 15 and 20, Budapest Ritmo, and more. He is a member of the World Music Charts Europe jury and other bodies, such as the WOMEX samurai in 2014 and 2020. He coordinates CEMS, the Central European network of world music promoters, festivals and professionals.
David Bali is the Head of Label Relations at Believe for Hungary, Romania and the Balkans, serving labels and the localized team of Label Managers to set and execute strategies and solutions on catalog-related movements regarding digital distribution. Between 2018 and 2021 he was the director of HOTS (Hungarian Oncoming Tunes) contemporary music export office. Besides his activities he also plays bass in a socially sensitive hardcore/punk band Satelles, and he’s the author of Kisterem, a book that compiles the 100 most important underground releases with reviews from the extreme genres between 2000 and 2020.
Kuba is an ethnomusicologist, journalist, broadcaster, producer and musician. He’s a graduate of the Institute of Musicology, Warsaw University. Kuba is a regular presenter, programmer and organiser, former chairman of the Folk and Traditional Music Group of the European Broadcasting Union. He has founded festivals, worked and an artistic director and programme directed. He has also worked with many Polish bands as a promoter and manager: Kapela Maliszów, Sutari, Karolina Cicha and Infidelis (2015-2019).
Eric van Monckhoven has worked as an ecosocial project designer, manager, and grant writer at the service of the international community for 20 years before serving as a cultural producer in France and Finland, and setting up Music4You, a live music PR & Booking agency for world, folk, and roots music artists. Eric is a member of the European Folk Network board. He is also working as mentor and consultant in various European and transnational projects. One of his interests goes with business modeling for artists. Eric is based in Sicily, Italy.
Founder and CEO of Hangvető, organizer of Budapest Ritmo and hosts of WOMEX in Budapest in 2015. Musicologist and musician, member of Tükrös ensemble since 1994 (double-bass). Connected to Hungarian folk music and the Táncház Movement since childhood. Active as publisher and event organizer in the folk and world music scene since 2001.
Journalist, manager & agent, founder of AMPromotions agency and Music Navigator conference. Assistant professor at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts since 2022. She worked as Head of communications at the Rock for People festival, and was the director of the Nouvelle Prague music conference and showcase festival. She has led workshops, mentoring or was a panelist at WOMEX, Ment Ljubljana, Czech Music Crossroads, MusicMatch, World Music Festival Bratislava and many more.
Vladimir Potkan Potancok is the radio presenter (Hudba sveta on Radio_FM, fourth channel of Radio and Television of Slovakia) and musical journalist, member of the World Music Charts Europe jury and co-founder of World Music from Slovakia. He also cooperates with the World Music Festival Bratislava and Pohoda festival in Trenčín.
Ben Mandelson is the Founding Director of WOMEX and a Supervisory Board member for the parent company Piranha Arts, based in Berlin, Germany. WOMEX is the world’s biggest professional music conference, trade fair, and showcase for World, Roots, Folk, Traditional, Local, and Diaspora music – an annual October-end Europe-based event. Ben is also an active musician, a leading freelance world music record producer, and was part of the key group of UK music professionals who launched the ‘world music’ genre.
Producer, musician, ethnomusicologist. General manager of FINISTERRE, management agency, event organiser and label specialized in world music.
He worked on field collecting traditional music and dance in different countries in the world and is now the Artistic Director of several music festivals such as “La Zampogna”; “Errare Humanum Est” “Il passo umile e lieto”.
Dragi Šestić is a music producer, sound engineer, director of music video clips and record label owner. In 1998 he founded the first Bosnian World Music band, Mostar Sevdah Reunion. He rediscovered almost forgotten Gypsy music legends Šaban Bajramović and Ljiljana Buttler-Petrović, produced the debut album of Amira Medunjanin and worked with the famous and only female maqaam star, Farida Ali. He’s worked with many Balkan stars before and his work can be found on many World Music compilations. He has his own record label called Snail Records, founded in 2002.
Ben Mandelson is the Founding Director of WOMEX and a Supervisory Board member for the parent company Piranha Arts, based in Berlin, Germany. WOMEX is the world’s biggest professional music conference, trade fair, and showcase for World, Roots, Folk, Traditional, Local, and Diaspora music – an annual October-end Europe-based event. Ben is also an active musician, a leading freelance world music record producer, and was part of the key group of UK music professionals who launched the ‘world music’ genre.
London-born curator, producer and trumpeter experienced in contemporary electronica, European folk and sacred music traditions. As a “samurai” at WOMEX, he has curated industry lecture programmes, presented an award and written essays for the WOMEX guide. Currently working with Prof. Nigel Osborne on music medicine and COVID-19 mental health for the UK National Health Service.
Dejan Vujinović is the artistic director of Etnofest and Jazziré music festivals in Serbia. Serving the finest music to its audience for the past two decades, these festivals bring both local and international artists. The festivals’ profile is alternative and exploratory – allowing space for fusions and experiments, but also appreciating roots and tradition. Dejan holds a master degree in marketing, he’s involved in several transnational cultural cooperation projects.
I am an ethnomusicologist, I currently teach at King’s College London. I’ve been interested in the music of the Middle East for all of my adult life, Turkey and Egypt in particular. My most recent book is Theory and Practice in the Music of the Islamic World (2018). I also play qanun with Oxford Maqam.
Ella Csarnó works as the communication lead of MOST, the Bridge for Balkan Music, and UPBEAT, the European Showcase Platform for World Music at Hangvető, and the coordinator of these international projects. Her expertise includes international communication and content production, including communication and social media strategy, project management, copywriting, and PPC management. Her background is in international communication, festival communication, and journalism; she has worked at several international music festivals and startups.
Agent, producer, and sound designer. Williams is an owner of Earth Beat, a management and booking agency based in Amsterdam that represents artists from all continents. Their profile consists of exciting high quality ‘traditional’ acts and talented, innovative and adventurous ‘cross-over’ bands. Their artists fit different circuits, like world, jazz, rock or underground.
Musician, record producer, and co-founder of Glitterbeat Records, a label “built upon sounds and artists that transcend cultural pre-conceptions and genre specificity”. Over the last 25 years Eckman’s band, The Walkabouts released nearly 20 albums. He produced over thirty albums for artists like Tamikrest, Aziza Brahim, and more.
Sara Venczel is the communication lead of Hangvető with a background in sociology and journalism. She has worked with NGOs and on cultural projects for a decade and a half extending to all projects in cultural business, such as national and international media campaigns and small and major festivals. She has planned cultural strategies for institutions and hosted a radio show. She also co-founded Hungary’s only afternoon family electronic party series.
Founder and CEO of Hangvető, organizer of Budapest Ritmo and hosts of WOMEX in Budapest in 2015. Musicologist and musician, member of Tükrös ensemble since 1994 (double-bass). Connected to Hungarian folk music and the Táncház Movement since childhood. Active as publisher and event organizer in the folk and world music scene since 2001.
Márton Méhes, PhD is a cultural manager who worked in diplomacy or management in Berlin, Pécs, and Budapest. Márton was the director of the Hungarian Cultural Institute in Vienna and now works as international cultural manager. His main fields are cultural diplomacy in practice and cultural cooperation in the Danube area.
Bojan started to write about music for youth magazines in the ’80s, and ever since then he’s been collaborating and writing for music magazines in Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Italy, Germany and the UK. He started the first ever radio show about experimental and alternative music in Serbia, now called «Disco 3000», broadcasted ever since 1990, and awarded by the votes of the audience the best radio show in Serbia. In 2000. Radio B92s music production put him in the A&R position for experimental and world music. He created the bestseller compilations „Srbija: Sounds Global“ and „Rromano Suno“.
As a dedicated music buff, Ira started her music business career in 2014 as a producer and head of office at Druga godba International Festival where she is currently a member of the programing board. Today, she works as a Digital Manager at Glitterbeat Records. Since 2019 she is also part of MENT Ljubljana team.
Ivan M. Petrovic is the President of the Managing Board at EXIT Foundation and works on many other festivals in the region. Ivan is consultant in area of creative industries, sustainability and corporate social responsibility and also follows social activism, international relations, event management, diaspora & development topics, youth tourism, public diplomacy, and more.
Borislav Petrov is a drummer, composer, teacher, and researcher. He received his musical education in the Netherlands, completing the American jazz program “New York Comes to Groningen.” He is a student of the legendary jazz drummer Ralph Peterson. Borislav Petrov plays music in various styles, including jazz, ethnic jazz, big band, fusion, world music, electronics, rock, pop, etc. The main object of his musical research is the asymmetric meters in Bulgarian folk music, the drumming styles in the Balkans, and their integration into different musical genres. Currently completing a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at the National Academy of Music in Bulgaria.
Bjørn Hammershaug has worked in music streaming for over 10 years. He is Senior Director of Global Curation at TIDAL. Based in Oslo, Norway, Bjorn is managing Content & Culture teams all over the world to give TIDAL a prime editorial experience.
Noam “Nani” Vazana writes original songs in Ladino, a dying Jewish-Spanish language. Vazana started her own booking agency, Nova Productions. She released 5 albums independently, featured (among others) on WMCE, and were #14 best selling on iTunes. Vazana won numerous awards and performed at the greatest showcases. She founded Why DIY Music academy for independent musicians, teaching her method at the London Performing Academy of Music and at the Jerusalem Music Academy.
Simon Broughton is Editor in Chief of Songlines, the leading world music magazine which has been in print since 1999. He also works as a documentary film maker and broadcaster – usually about music. He’s been working in the field of world music for 30 years.
Szilvia Bellay is the Director of Operations at Hangvető, balancing strategy and resources for projects in the company. Started in the music business in 2014 after a career shift from digital media. Expert in managing multi layer projects and also production of events and festivals as Budapest Ritmo, local host of WOMEX 2015. High scale project management, International relations, cultural strategy and consulting, organisation development are her main working areas.
Balazs Weyer is the programme director of Hangvető, host of WOMEX 15 and 20, Budapest Ritmo, and more. He is a member of the World Music Charts Europe jury and other bodies, such as the WOMEX samurai in 2014 and 2020. He coordinates CEMS, the Central European network of world music promoters, festivals and professionals.
Juliana Volož started as a band manager and booking agent in 2005. In 2007 she opened booking agency JV-Promotion. Currently she is booking 13 international world music bands. Juliana has co-organized international music projects, showcase festivals offers mentoring programs for emerging artists, agents and managers. Juliana is also one of the founder members of Association of Global Independent Music Agents.
Lucy Durán (Professor of Music at SOAS, London University) specializes in music of Mali and Cuba. Ex-BBC Radio 3 presenter of World Routes, she has made award-winning films (eg Growing into Music) and has produced 23 albums, launching the careers of Toumani Diabaté, Bassekou Kouyaté and Trio Da Kali, with three Grammy nominations.
As an accomplished musician, songwriter, and winner of multiple awards, including Grazia Magazine’s Woman of the Year, Forbes 30 Under 30, and Best Jazz Vocalist at the JAJ Awards in Japan, Ruth Koleva is a prime example of a contemporary musician and successful female entrepreneur in the music industry. As Head of Partnerships for China’s largest independent music company, Kanjian, Ruth is a key connection for international companies and artists looking to grow. In 2020, New York-based Koleva founded Sofia Live Festival in her native Bulgaria, a contemporary three-day festival exploring innovation and interdisciplinary arts and genres.
Eric van Monckhoven has worked as an ecosocial project designer, manager, and grant writer at the service of the international community for 20 years before serving as a cultural producer in France and Finland, and setting up Music4You, a live music PR & Booking agency for world, folk, and roots music artists. Eric is a member of the European Folk Network board. He is also working as mentor and consultant in various European and transnational projects. One of his interests goes with business modeling for artists. Eric is based in Sicily, Italy.
Rok Košir first got involved in the music business working for the international festival Druga Godba where he was a member of the programming team and also the Acting Director. He collaborates with various event series and festivals, and is a member of the managing board of the Slovene Music Information Centre. With his knowledge and network, he helps artists through his agency R.O.K. booking & management.
Since 2017 Katharina works as policy advisor of the European Music Council. Her tasks include analysing policies and drafting policy recommendations on EU cultural policy and other fields relevant for music. She has participated in several Stakeholder Consultations on EU level such as Voices of Culture and Music Moves Europe and more.
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