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DELEGATES

As every year, Czech Music Crossroads will be attended by more than 3 dozen music business experts from all over the world. Performing musicians will thus have the opportunity to approach experienced managers, bookers, festival organizers and publicists. Some of them will also speak as part of the conference program .

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Divya 
BHATIA

INDIA | Artistic director, producer

Based in Mumbai, Divya Bhatia is an independent artistic director, producer and performing arts consultant. He is the Festival Director of Jodhpur RIFF, India’s leading international roots music and performing arts festival. Now in its 19th year, he has been instrumental in developing it into a successful global platform for Rajasthan’s traditional musicians as well as international roots artists performing in India.

A mentor and producer of the emerging Rajasthani folk group SAZ, he regularly produces, curates and promotes music and theatre in and from India, collaborating with artists, institutions and festivals around the world. Divya has directed numerous festivals and has served on juries for platforms such as WOMEX, IOMMA and the Aga Khan Music Awards. He is also the Director of Music Museum Projects at the Mehrangarh Museum Trust in Jodhpur and an Applied Theatre associate at the RCSSD (UK).

Educated in India, the United Kingdom and Canada, he has been a Hindustani classical tabla player and a character actor in Hindi cinema, including appearances in the films Paa (2009) and Talvar (2015, released internationally as Guilty).

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Petra
BURTHEY

CZECHIA | Music manager, booking agent

Petra Burthey has been active in the music industry since 2010. She is a manager and booking agent for the ensemble Clarinet Factory and serves as production and booking agent for the band Tata Bojs. She also worked as manager for Czech artist Beata Hlavenková from 2014 to 2016.

In addition to her long-term work with musicians and bands, she has been involved in the production of the Shakespeare v Litomyšli theatre festival since 2024. Petra is a founding member of the Czech section of the Music Managers Forum (MMF ČR)

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Götz
BÜHLER

GERMANY | Music journalist, author, presenter, artistic advisor to jazzahead!

Götz Bühler is a music journalist, author, and radio/TV presenter known for hosting the Jazz thing Mixtape on ByteFM, OneJazz, and the German Jazz Prize broadcasts. He also serves as the Artistic Advisor to the jazzahead! trade fair, conference, and festival.

Held annually in Bremen, Germany, jazzahead! is the world’s largest gathering for the jazz industry. In 2026 it will celebrate its 20th anniversary, with Sweden as its partner country.

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Borka
CSEJDY

HUNGARY | Festivals & Cultural Programming, Hangvető

Borka is a cultural manager and curator with a background in law and art theory, working at the intersection of festivals, contemporary culture, and community-based programming. She is currently a project manager at Hangvető, where she works on projects including Budapest Ritmo Festival and Polyglot. Previously, she worked as a program organizer for Bánkitó Festival, and as a program curator for OFF-Biennále Budapest. Across her curatorial and organizational work, she is interested in developing formats that bring together art, dialogue, and participatory cultural experiences, and how cultural events can create spaces for exchange, collaboration, and shared experiences through artistic content and community engagement. 

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Andraž
KAJZER

SLOVENIA | Artistic director, festival manager, MENT Ljubljana

Andraž Kajzer is the artistic director and festival manager of MENT Ljubljana, a four-daymusic discovery festival and conference held in the Slovenian capital since 2015.

His previous experience ranges from serving beer and painting walls to running an indie label, editing a print magazine and a webzine, making a documentary about free music, working as a music journalist and attempting music criticism, promoting gigs, organizing smallinternational tours, and working as a sound technician.

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Łukasz
KAŁĘBASIAK

POLAND | Director of Katowice City of Gardens

Since 2026 in charge of Katowice City of Gardens - Krystyna Bochenek Cultural Institution, with which he has been associated since 2012. The institution is the main organiser of cultural events in Katowice, including its own festivals such as the World Music Festival ‘Gardens of Sound’ and the Katowice JazzArt Festival.

Member of the team responsible for the creation of the winning application, thanks to which Katowice joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2015, as the first Music City in Poland. He participated in the organization of such events as the WOMEX 2017 World Music Fair and the 2018 annual meeting of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. As of 2019, he represents Katowice in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. 

Co-author of Katowice's application for the European Capital of Culture 2029 competition and originator of its guiding concept Play!, which has resulted in Katowice and the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis being awarded the title of Polish Capital of Culture 2027.

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Matusz
DOBROWOLSKI

POLAND | Journalist, musician, manager, traditional music and dance teacher, Contributor of Polish Radio Centre For Folk Culture, Songlines Magazine and Jazz Forum

Performing on a traditional frame drum in Polish-Belarusian band Hajda Banda / Гайда Банда and as a soloist. He used to perform in R.U.T.A. (hardcore punk) and terenNowy (improvised music). Awarded with II award at the True Musicians Tournament 2023 (Turniej Muzyków Prawdziwych) organised by the Szczecin Philharmonic. 

 

Awarded as an executive producer with Fryderyk 2016 (Polish Grammy) for world music for Warsaw Village Band album ‘Sun Celebration’.

Representing Hańba!, hardcore-punk band of 1930s Poland. 

Experienced delegate on different music trade fairs and conferences. 

President of the Ethnic Arts Association "Transetnika" - NGO promoting Polish folk music abroad. 

 

Born 1992 in Warsaw, Poland. 

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Paweł
DRYGAS

POLAND | Artistic director, wrOFF Showcase Festival, music club manager

Paweł Andrzej Drygas is the founder and artistic director of the wrOFF Showcase Festival and the manager of the “Łącznik” music club at Wrocław’s Czasoprzestrzeń Cultural Centre. Deeply immersed in the local music scene, he has written several academic papers on the subject and organized numerous concerts promoting young musicians, alongside various educational activities.

As the manager of Łącznik, Paweł has organized hundreds of concerts for both Polish and international bands. His extensive industry experience includes participation as a delegate and musician at numerous renowned showcase festivals and conferences, such as Reconnect Brno, Live at Heart, Czech Music Crossroads, Future Echoes, Canadian Music Week, Spring Break, Next Fest, Tak Brzmi Miasto, and more.

Paweł’s dedication to music has been recognized with a Ministerial Scholarship awarded for both his artistic and academic achievements. Beyond his roles as a manager and festival director, he also works as a graphic designer, sociologist, and musician. As a drummer, he has performed in nearly 300 concerts — a number that continues to grow.

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Filip 
KOŠŤÁLEK

CZECHIA | Artistic director, Colours of Ostrava festival

Filip Košťálek is an experienced programmer and cultural producer with over a decade in the international music and festival scene. At the moment, he is the artistic director of Colours of Ostrava festival, and has played a key role in shaping innovative music programming in Central Europe. Filip’s work bridges genres and cultures, bringing cutting-edge global talent to new audiences. He has collaborated with celebrated artists and was honored with the European Festival Award, named among IQ Magazine’s New Bosses, and featured in Forbes 30 Under 30.

 

For 10 years, he is working for the largest international music festival in the Czech Republic Colours of Ostrava. Currently as a creative manager and programmer. The festival takes place in industrial venue for 4 days every summer, venue capacity is over 50 000 people, has 8 music stages, 7 discussion stages and over 120 bands from all around the world.  From mainstream stars to music discoveries.

In addition, he also participates in other events: Festival in the Streets - Art & Life and the international music conference and showcase festival Czech Music Crossroads.

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Neveen
KENAWY

EGYPT | Founder and artistic director, She Arts Festival

Neveen is a cultural leader, artistic director, and founder of She Arts Festival, Egypt’s first international festival dedicated to women in the arts. She is a key figure in Egypt’scontemporary cultural scene, with extensive experience in cultural programming and festival management.

 

At the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Neveen serves as Artistic Director and General Coordinatorof the International Summer Festival and the Jazz Tales Festival. She has also worked as Artistic Consultant for Fabrica music theatre and is a member of the Advisory Committee at Centre Résonances – Égypte.

 

Her work focuses on women’s empowerment, cultural exchange, and innovation. She has developed mentorship programmes for emerging female artists, collaborated with major international institutions, and represented Egypt at global platforms. In 2020, she became the first Arab female jury member at Jazzahead in Bremen and continues to serve on juries for regional and international music competitions.

 

Neveen has earned multiple international recognitions, including selection by the German Embassy in Cairo (2022), the Recording Academy’s American Music Mentorship Program (2024), and the Japan Music and Cultural Exchange (2025). She holds a Diploma in Artistic Criticism, a Master’s in Film Music, and a certification in Strategic Planning.

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Tatiana
LEHOCKÁ

SLOVAKIA | Concert promoter & booker

Since 2018, Tatiana Lehocká has been the conference director and booker of the music programme at the SHARPE music festival & conference in Bratislava, Slovakia. The festival focuses on emerging artists from Slovakia, Europe and beyond, while the conference reflects current trends and topics in the music industry.

She is also the booking agent for several notable acts from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, representing artists such as FVLCRVM (SK), Manon meurt (CZ), The Ills (SK) and others. Over the years, she has worked in artist management, tour management and concert promotion (Real Something), in festival production (International Animation Film Festival – Fest Anča) and in various roles at other festivals and events including Bratislava Design Week, Sensorium, BRAK – Bratislava Book Festival and JAMA.

Through her concert agency, she has brought artists such as Black Midi, XXYYXX, TTNG, Sóley, Sin Fang and many others to Slovakia. Over the past fifteen years, she has collaborated with numerous venues and organised concerts and performances for more than 200 artists from across the USA, Canada, Iceland, the UK, Scandinavia and mainland Europe.

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Anna 
MAŠÁTOVÁ

CZECHIA | Cultural Manager, Journalist, Lecturer, AMPromotions

Anna Mašátová is the editor of the ArtCafé program on Czech Radio Vltava, assistant professor at JAMU, and deputy editor-in-chief of the cultural magazine Uni. She serves as a jury member for the Czech Anděl Awards, the National Awards of the Ministry of Culture, Slovakia’s Radio_Head Awards (World Music and Folk), and WOMEX 2025.

 

She is the founder of AMPromotions, an agency focused on music PR, management, and booking. Anna is committed to educating musicians and professionals, developing infrastructure, and fostering networking platforms. She regularly speaks at international conferences such as WOMEX, MENT, and World Music Festival Bratislava, and has mentored in the MOST project. She also coordinates Crossing Borders in Music, a project for the European Capital of Culture České Budějovice 2028.

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Lucia 
MIKLASOVÁ

SLOVAKIA | Festival director/CEO, World Music Festival Bratislava

Lucia brings together a strong foundation in classical music and marketing with over 15 yearsof professional experience in marketing strategy and event production for both the public and private sectors.

In 2025, she joined the World Music Festival Bratislava as PR & Production Manager. She iscurrently the CEO of this event, which has been internationally awarded as Best World Music Festival 2025 just recently.

 

Lucia also founded and leads the artist management agency Artistiq, focused on the careerdevelopment of pop, folk and rock artists.

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Yuta 
NOMURA

JAPAN | Festival producer & conference director

Yuta Nomura is the CEO of SHIN Inc., a Tokyo-based creative agency producing music festivals, cultural programs, and international projects that connect Japan with the global music industry. He is the founder and organizer of CUEW Showcase & Conference, held annually every April in Shibuya, Tokyo. Through live performances, conference sessions, and networking opportunities, CUEW serves as an international platform linking artists from Japan and across Asia with music professionals worldwide. The April 2026 edition brought together more than 500 industry delegates and featured over 140 artists across multiple venues in Shibuya.

In Hyogo Prefecture, he produces and organizes two music festivals: ONE MUSIC CAMP and ARIFUJI WEEKENDERS. Since launching ONE MUSIC CAMP in 2010, he has been developing outdoor festivals rooted in local culture. In 2023, he launched ARIFUJI WEEKENDERS — a new festival where music resonates with nature — at Arimafuji Park, the largest urban park in Hyogo Prefecture.

Beyond these projects, he supports Japanese artists expanding overseas through festival bookings, tour coordination, and related activities, and produces Japan shows and entry support for international artists. His work focuses on fostering cross-cultural exchange and building a sustainable global network through music.

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Michal
PAŘÍZEK

CZECHIA | Journalist, editor-in-chief of Full Moon magazine

Michal Pařízek is a music and arts journalist and the editor-in-chief of Full Moon magazine. He has been publishing since 2002, with his work appearing in outlets such as Aktualne.cz, Čilichili, Freemusic, Nedělní svět, Reflex, Týden, Uni and others. He also hosts programmes on Czech Radio Vltava and Radio 1. He has been part of Full Moon since its founding in 2010 and became its editor-in-chief in 2014. Michal also works as the curator and dramaturge of the Full Moon Stage at the Colours of Ostrava festival and other events, and since 2020 he has been co-organising the Moody Moon Noize festival.

From 2001 to 2023 he was a member of the promoter collective Scrape Sound and contributed to organising numerous concerts and events, mostly in Prague. In 2020 he published the book Uprostřed příběhu (In the Middle of the Story), a selection of texts from ten years of Full Moon. Since 2014 he has regularly served on grant committees of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Prague City Hall and the Slovak Arts Council.

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Hanka
PODHORSKÁ

CZECHIA | Music Manager, Booking agent

Hanka Podhorská is a music manager and booking agent at Indies Production, part of theIndies Scope label, and a member of the programme board of SoundCzech.

 

In addition to organising concerts in the Czech Republic, she brings her artists to stagesacross the world (Mexico, India, Pakistan, Borneo, Réunion Island, Egypt) and regularly attends international showcase festivals and conferences.
 

She currently represents, among others, Dorota Barová, Hrubá Hudba, BraAgas, Zimnice, Kafka Band and Bratři.

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Øivind Andersen
SJØVOLL

NORWAY | Board member, Tromsø World Festival

Øivind Andersen Sjøvoll, Board member of Tromsø World Festival, has been a manager and club organiser in Tromsø since 2002.
He has also been actively producing exquisitely formed and far-reaching music for the last two decades, releasing cosmically centred sounds on several labels.

His main monikers are Kohib and Ransel.

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Pavla
SLÍVOVÁ

CZECHIA | Head of Booking and Artist Liaison at Colours of Ostrava

Pavla Slívová is Head of Booking and Artist Liaison at Colours of Ostrava, where she has been working since 2009. As part of the booking team, she is responsible for international artist bookings and negotiations, collaborating closely with agents, managers, and artists from around the world. During the festival, her “kingdom” becomes the backstage behind the Main Stage, where she oversees artist relations and daily operations.

 

She is a Board Member of YOUROPE and frequently speaks at international conferences and panels, sharing insights into festival programming, artist relations, accessibility, and inclusion.

Pavla is also an ambassador and active supporter of several festival initiatives, including the accessibility programme Colours Without Barriers and projects connecting music with broader cultural and social themes

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Márton 
SÜTHEÖ

 HUNGARY | Project manager, Hangvető

Márton Sütheő changed his path from engineering and shifted to cultural life. Working at Hangvetö as a Project Manager for over four years now, as a member of the production team on Budapest Ritmo, WOMEX, Trilla Festival and project lead at MOST Music Agency amongst many other things. 

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Dušan 
SVÍBA

CZECHIA | Booker and manager

Dušan is a booking agent and manager active since 2002 under the Earth Music agency. He founded and for 24 years directed the Colour Meeting festival (2001–2025), and for several years also promoted the Earth Music Concerts series in Prague.


Artists he works or has worked with include Dubioza kolektiv, Džambo Aguševi Orkestar, Oi Va Voi, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Graveyard Train, Omer Klein, Tim Eriksen, No Blues, Nive & The Dead Children, DakhaBrakha, Renato Borghetti, At First Light, Sergent Pepére, and many others. From Czech artists, he currently represents Terne Čhave, Frankie & The Deadbeats, Invisible World, and singer-songwriter David Pomahač.

 

He is one of the founding members of Music Managers Forum CR and contributed to the creation of SoundCzech (the Czech export office), where he served for several years on the dramaturgy board. He was also involved in the founding of ČOH – Česká obec hudební, the Czech music industry association.

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Marek 
SZYMAŃSKI

POLAND | CSO, HR director, booker at Good Taste Production

Marek Szymański works as CSO, HR Director, and booker for Good Taste Production, a Polish promoter active since 2012. He has helped develop the company’s national and international roster and contributed to building its festival brands.

 

Good Taste promotes more than 200 shows annually across major Polish cities, focusing on pop, funk, and jazz artists. The company has also launched several festival brands from scratch, including BitterSweet Festival, Defender Salt Wave Festival, Jazz Around Festival, NEXT FEST Music Showcase & Conference, and the touring festival Santander Summer Sounds.

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Jozefina 
ŠARIĆ

CROATIA | Project manager at We Move Croatia

Jozefina Šarić is a project manager at We Move Music Croatia and the SHIP Festival, as well as a vocalist and DJ with a background in audio engineering. She has gained experience at festivals such as Tallinn Music Week, PIN Music Conference, SHIP Festival and Seasplash, where she has contributed to event organisation and supported the local music community. She has also been part of the teams behind national music awards including Rock&Off, Elector and Porin.

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Masanori 
TAKAGUCHI

JAPAN/HUNGARY | Director, The Japan Foundation Budapest

The Japan Foundation connects people in the field of arts and cultural exchange, Japanese language education and dialogue on global issues. Since 1991, The Japan Foundation Budapest works as its sole representative office in the Eastern part of Europe. One of their aims is to link the attractive music scene of the region and Japanese artists.

 

Masanori was appointed as director of the Budapest office of The Japan Foundation and arrived in Europe last summer, and since then had the opportunity to visit Czechia, Poland and several Balkan countries. As for working with stage performances, he has had experience with children’s theatre in Indonesia, music workshop in Sri Lanka, and performing arts in Russia.

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Koki 
TAKAHASHI

JAPAN | CEO, event producer & booking agent

Koki Takahashi is the CEO of KOKICIK LLC, a Yokohama-based company he founded in January 2025. KOKICIK focuses on event organization and production, booking agency services, festival management, visa support for artists, and original fragrance production. The company has produced the Tokyo Night Market in Yoyogi Park, launched and managed the new Orange Echo Stage at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, and organized the Minami Aoyama EAT & JAZZ Street Festival in Minato City.

In August 2025, Koki co-launched the CUEW Showcase & Conference in Shibuya together with Yuta Nomura — a new showcase platform supporting Japanese artists in expanding their international careers and connecting domestic and global industry professionals.

 

He produced and organized a wide range of cultural and music events, including the Ryokō Keion concert series held at a traditional Noh theatre. He also programmed the mini-festival Zōbi Sakura Matsuri. In addition, he organized Chikadai Taiketsu at The Wall Taipei, and continued to expand his international collaborations across Asia.

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Milan 
TESAŘ

CZECHIA | Music director, curator, Radio Proglas, WMCE

Milan Tesař has been working as the music  director at Proglas Radio in Brno since 1995. In 2024 he became its programme director and one of its co-owners. Over the years he has produced several thousand interviews with musicians and numerous radio shows focusing on folk, jazz, world, blues and alternative music.

 

He also writes about music for variousmagazines and newspapers and collaborates with Czech Radio (the Czech Radio Jazz station).

 

He is the chief dramaturge of the Maraton hudby Brno festival and heads the Folk and Jazz section of the Czech music awards Anděl. He is a member of the expert panel of the World Music Charts Europe and has served as its chair since 2020.

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Yuki
YAMA

JAPAN | Assistant Director, The Japan Foundation

Yuki Yama works at the The Japan Foundation headquarters as Assistant Director of the Performing Arts Section. The Japan Foundation is a governmental organization that promotes cultural exchange between Japan and countries overseas in order to foster mutual understanding.

He has been involved in a wide range of projects, including music, theatre and contemporary art performances. He was previously based in Brazil, where he also led socially engaged projects. Currently, he is responsible for grant programs as well as music-related initiatives, including the music showcase CUEW, the Japanese indie music showcase and a jazz showcase project in Australia.

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Veronika 
VALDOVÁ

CZECHIA | Booking manager, tour manager

Veronika works as a booking manager at Veve Booking, representing both Czech and international artists across a wide range of genres. She also works as a tour manager, with experience managing bands both in the Czech Republic and abroad. She has long been active in music management and concert organisation, and currently works with more than thirty projects, including Zooblasters—her primary focus—as well as Trombenik, MoveBreakers and Le Čhavendar. Among international acts, she collaborates with Savana Funk and Giufà.

She also represents the award-winning beatboxer Tiny Beat, DJ and producer Le Petit Nicolas, the tap dance group Cloggers, and the drumming show Tokhi & Groove Army. She is a member of the international organisation Music Managers Forum and vice-chair of the association RR, z. s. Her work combines a strong curatorial sense, deep knowledge of the music scene, and a human-centred approach, building long-term relationships between artists, promoters, and audiences.

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Eric E.
VAN MONCKHOVEN

ITALY | CEO, consultant and booking agent, Music4You / World Music Lab

Eric E. Van Monckhoven is the CEO of Music4You / World Music Lab, which provides support services to entrepreneurial artists and independent agencies and organizations, including radio chart promotion, outreach support, booking assistance, coaching, and project facilitation.

 

He has more than 25 years of experience as a consultant, project manager, and grant writer in the field of social and cultural cooperation. For over 10 years, he also worked as a bookingagent in the world, folk, and jazz music sectors.

Eric is a board member of the European Folk Network and part of the coordination team of the European Folk Day.

 

He is based in Sicily, Italy. At Czech Music Crossroads 2026, he represents Kanazoe Orkestra.

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Anna 
VILANOVA

SPAIN | Project manager, curator

With a degree in Sociology and a Master’s in Cultural Policies, Anna has led the Professional Area of Fira Mediterrània de Manresa since 2014. Fira Mediterrània is the strategic fair for artistic proposals that draw on root sources, tradition and popular culture as drivers of creativity.

This multidisciplinary fair has three main itineraries: a music programme featuring Mediterranean, world music and folk scenes, highlighting new works from the Catalan roots landscape; a dance itinerary offering dynamic perspectives on traditional roots and folk culture; and a line devoted to memory, legacy and oral storytelling, including performance and outdoor arts such as theatre and circus. The Professional Area also serves as a meeting and exchange hub, acting as a point of contact and sales for both the performing arts and music sectors. The 28th edition will take place in the city of Manresa from 15 to 18 October2026.

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Pavel 
URBAN

CZECHIA | Musician & music professional

Pavel Urban is a member of the music project Pavel Hanus and is actively involved in its further development. Alongside his own musical activities, he is interested in music management, concert opportunities, and connecting artists within the Czech and international music scene.

He is a member of MMF Czech Republic, where he focuses on topics related to the functioning of the music industry and the support of original artistic projects. At Czech Music Crossroads, he seeks inspiration, new contacts, and opportunities for collaboration that can contribute to the further development of the Czech music scene.

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Yuki
YAMA

JAPAN | Assistant Director, The Japan Foundation

Yuki Yama works at the The Japan Foundation headquarters as Assistant Director of the Performing Arts Section. The Japan Foundation is a governmental organization that promotes cultural exchange between Japan and countries overseas in order to foster mutual understanding.

He has been involved in a wide range of projects, including music, theatre and contemporary art performances. He was previously based in Brazil, where he also led socially engaged projects. Currently, he is responsible for grant programs as well as music-related initiatives, including the music showcase CUEW, the Japanese indie music showcase and a jazz showcase project in Australia.

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Peter
WIEGOLD

UNITED KINGDOM | Artistic director: Third Orchestra

Peter Wiegold is an acclaimed British composer and conductor who has written and conducted for the BBC Proms, the London Symphony Orchestra and many other leading institutions. Alongside his work in contemporary and classical music, he has long been committed to exploring and collaborating with musical traditions from different cultures and genres.

Since 2011, his London-based Club Inégales has brought together artists from across the world in more than 120 events alongside his resident ensemble. Guests have included guitarist Lionel Loueke, radical pop artist Gazelle Twin, the English folk trio Leveret, Māori shaman Horo Horomona and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

Out of this environment emerged The Third Orchestra, a project that brings together exceptional musicians from diverse musical traditions, currently including artists from Korea, China, India, Zambia, Syria, Mexico, Greece, Slovakia, Spain and the UK. Combining co-creation and improvisation, the orchestra has presented its work at ISPA in New York and opened Classical:NEXT at Berlin’s Boulez Saal. Recent collaborations include a project with the Indian indie rock group The Tapi Project at SOAS University of London.

The ensemble is currently involved in an international IBC research programme with partners including King’s College London, the BBC, ITV, the EBU, MIT and Shure, exploring immersive and spatial audio, video capture, virtual reality and live-streaming technologies. It is also developing a new branch, Third Orchestra New York.

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Valentina 
ZUGOR

HUNGARY/JAPAN | Program Assistant for Arts and Culture, The Japan Foundation Budapest

Valentina has been working at the Budapest office of The Japan Foundation since 2022 as a local program assistant. She is responsible for the organization of programs in the field of arts and culture, such as exhibitions, stage performances and lectures. She also manages the local grant program in the fields of arts, culture, publications and film screenings. The Local Project Support Program receives applications not only from Hungary, but the whole Central Eastern European region.

Valentina is fluent in Japanese and has a background in Communication and Media Studies. She spent three years in total in Japan, first as a scholarship student, then as a full-time intern at an international company.

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Zuzana
ŽIAKOVÁ

SLOVAKIA | Administration and Organization, World Music Festival Bratislava / Neha!

Organizer, musician, and digital graphic designer with extensive experience in connecting music, design, and event management.

In 2020, she founded the civic association Zvukopriestor, which focuses on music development and the organization of concerts and workshops in Slovakia. That same year, she also founded the music group Neha!, with which she has been performing successfully in Slovakia and abroad for nearly six years. Since 2022, she has been involved in organizing the World Music Festival Bratislava and representing the Slovak world music scene through the WOMUSK platform. She is a passionate advocate for bringing more tenderness into the world.

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