Stef Coninx (born in Neerpelt, 1960) studied musicology and obtained his degree at the University of Louvain (K.U.L., 1984). He also practised music as a singer, guitar player and choir conductor. He has more than 20 years of work experience in the music field. He started teaching music for a few years and then became responsible for the music program of the Cultural Centre Strombeek- Bever (near Brussels). At the same time he started to work in an IT-project on Flemish music at the record library of the national radio. He also became the head purchaser for classical music. Early 1994 he joined PolyGram as a Product Manager for Decca and Philips Classics. As Marketing Manager Classics and Jazz he became an Executive in the Belgian division of the Universal Music Group. In  2000 he decided to leave the record business in order to put his experience at the disposal of the Flanders Music Centre of which he became the Managing Director. Stef has become the secretary of IAMIC in 2004, improving and developing the organisation.

Born in May 20th 1957 in Ravoník (Czech Republic) graduated in musicology and aesthetics. Specialised in electro-acoustic music, aesthetics/semiotics, culture polica and analysis of music life. Currently working at the music department of the Arts Institute (Theatre Insitute Prague) on the topic of the analysis and promotion of Czech music life. Current positions: Director of the international Competiotion Musica Nova (since 1999), Secretary of Czech Music Council (since 1992),  member of the Commission for Support of Professional Orchestras, member of the Grant Commitee of Ministry of Culture (Dpt. of Arts), member of Visegrad Commitee for Residences, Commissioner for MIDEM Czech Exposition (since 2005), Coordinator of Martinů Year 2009-10.

Aage Hagen works as programme director and head of international relations at Rhythmic Music Conservatory (RMC) in Copenhagen. He is currently chairing the AEC Pop Jazz Platform. Prior to that he worked as performer and composer in the best selling Danish pop act “Tøsedrengene” where he co-wrote and co-produced a couple of major hit songs. Simultaneously he toured Denmark and Scandinavia with various other rock and world music ensembles. He has worked as a teacher at The Royal Academies of Music in Copenhagen and Aarhus and in various folk high schools. He has worked as a course director and instructor for the Danish Music Educators’ Union, organising continuing education courses for music teachers. He is a former chairman of the Council for Rhythmic Music Education and of the Nordplus network for pop and jazz music “Nordpuls”.

Christian Höppner was born in 1956. He studied at the University of the Arts Universität der Künste Berlin to become instrumental teacher, music educator and professional cellist. Afterwards he completed a course in orchestra conducting. Since 2004 Christian Höppner is the secretary general of the Deutscher Musikrat (German Music Council) after being its vice president for four years. He is a visiting lecturer at the violoncello department of the Univerität der Künste since 1986. From 1984 to 2004 he was head of the central community music school in the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. Christian Höppner is president of the Landesmusikrat Berlin (Federal Music Council of Berlin), chairman of the federal committee for "Jugend musiziert", member of the supervisory board for the gemeinnützige Betriebsgesellschaft mbH Landesakademie u. Kinder- u. Jugendfreizeitzentrum Wuhlheide, former president of Rotary of Berlin Spree, vice chairman of the Deutscher Kulturrat (German Culture Council) and spokesman for the music department at the Deutscher Kulturrat, member of the program committee at Cologne based TV-station RTL,  member of the board of trustees of the Frankfurter Musikpreis und chief editor of the music magazine Music Forum. He represents the German Music Council at the German Commission for UNESCO. For his commitment to the music life he was honoured by Federal President Johannes Rau with the Bundesverdienstkreuz in 2001.

Marie Kučerová was born in the Czech Republic and graduated there as musicologist from the Masaryk University. Since 1989 she is working for Czech Television, Television Studios Brno.  As  she is based  in the city of Janáček and many other music personalities, she produced dozens of concerts, operas and documentaries on Janáček, Martinů, Korngold, Haas and Kaprálová. At the same time she also attended to jazz, world music and dance programmes. From the very beginning she covered the stunning career of mezzosoprano Magdalena Kožená and she focuses also on the other strong music Czech personality - Iva Bittová. Since 2002 she is the bureau member of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) Music and Dance Experts Group and has been involved in international co-productions (European Roots, Diary of One Who Disappeared, Israel Dancing,  Cunning Little Vixen, Holocaust Memorial, Beethoven´s Hair, Car Men). She worked in international tv juries (Golden Prague, Rose d´Or, Czech Dance Platform, International EMMY Awards, Prix Italia). Since 2007 she is also the board member of IMZ (International Music & Media Centre, Vienna).

Richard Letts grew up in Australia but completed his tertiary education in the with a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley. Subsequently he was director of two music schools in the USA and then after 18 years, returned to Australia as director of music at the Australia Council, the national funding body. After that, he was director of the national music information centre, and then in 1994 founded the Music Council of Australia. He has established and edited magazines, written four books (three published), hundreds of articles and policy documents, released recordings, been a researcher, set up a national campaign and advocated music's cause high and low.

Peter Rantasa, born in 1964 in Vienna/Austria, Executive Director of mica – music austria, is member of the Executive Board of UNESCO’s International Music Council (IMC). He acts as Lecturer on Culture Management & Studies at Vienna University for Music, founded/curated music festivals, designed/coordinated EU funded projects. As sound artist he created award winning performances for international festivals, Rantasa acts frequently as jury member in the cultural domain.

Born in 1953, Danish singer, performer, composer, lyricist and author. Has released many albums/cd’s and books since 1978. From 1989 until 2007 elected author director of the board of KODA - the Danish Authors’ Rights Society, Vice-chairman of Djbfa, the Danish non-classical composers’ guild, representing a 1.000 Danish composers of jazz, rock, folk, rap and electronica. From 2003 until 2007 elected President of CIAM, the composers’ World Congress/Council within CISAC, the World organization of Authors’ Rights Societies - thus representing 2 mio. composers of all genres globally. Presently ‘acting secretary general’ of ECA, The European Council of artists, representing about 220.000 performing and creating artists of all artistic disciplines organized through national “umbrellas” in 25 European countries. Has worked intensively in Brussels during the last 3 years informing Parliamentarians of the necessity to safeguard European creative rights versus “Global market, corporate business group-think” in a new and digitalized world.

Prof. Dr. Peter Röbke studied music education, musicology, education science and germanistics in Essen and Bochum (Germany). He was assistant professor at the University of Arts Berlin and director of a music school in Berlin and started teaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts in 1989. Since 1994 he is ordinary professor for instrumental- und vocal education (IVE), head of the curriculum commission for IVE and deputy head of the institute for music education. He is leading projects and teaching in the framework of ERASMUS and does a lot of activities in the continuing educational field for music schools in Europe.

Active as consultant and adviser on the arts in higher education, Dame Janet has published on aspects of instrumental pedagogy and performance practice, on the development of the conservatoire and on nineteenth century European concert life. As pianist and accompanist, she has worked extensively with singers and in chamber music performance. Director of the Royal College of Music London and Visiting Professor of the University Plymouth between 1993 and 2005, Dame Janet is a former chair of the Federation of British Conservatoires and Vice-President of the Royal Musical Association. A trustee of various arts-related charities, she is a founder member of the Wissenschaftsrat which advises the Austrian Government on higher education reform.

Jiří Štilec was born in Prague, he graduated Musicology and History at Charles University Prague and wrote many works on contemporary Czech Music. He was then teaching at Musicology Department at Charles University Prague from 1977 to 1981, after that he has been working in the Czech Radio Music Department (1981 – 1992), and for Supraphon (1992 – 1997).

In 1998 he established a new company: ArcoDiva, one of today´s leading Czech recording and management and PR company. In the 90th he restored Gustav Mahler birthplace in Kaliště, he established Gustav Mahler Company and Gustav Mahler Festival in the Czech Republic. In the year 1998 he became the head of Music Management Department at Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

Vladimir Sucha is Director for Culture, Communication and Multilingualism at the Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Commission. He is responsible for 5 units covering different tasks of the DG. Before, he was Director of the Slovak Research and Development Agency (2005-2006). National body in the Slovak Republic for funding research, promoting international cooperation, research culture, and scientific advise. He worked as well as Principal advisor for European Affairs to the Minister of Education of the Slovak Republic (2004-2005). He has been working at the Slovak Representation to the EU in Brussels for 4 years as research, education and culture counselor (2000-2004).  At the same time he has a long-term academic and research background – full professor of the Bratislava and visiting professor/scientist at different institutions in many coutries. He is/was member of many scientific, advisory and governing bodies at the national, European and international levels.