Team Up an Act!

This panel discussion brings together representatives of the four networks cooperating in the organisation of the conference: the European Association of Conservatoires (AEC), the European Association for Music in Schools (EAS), the European Music Council (EMC) and the European Music School Union (EMU). Joined by Jeunesses Musicales International Secretary General Blasko Smilevski, they will look at the overall topic of collaboration and cooperation in the field of music education and discuss it from their respective perspectives.

Stefan Gies

Stefan Gies (born 1954 in Landau / Germany) heads the AEC office in Brussels as its CEO since fall 2015. He is a classical trained viola player, but was active as well as a composer in the field of contemporary music and as a bigband leader and arranger. He worked as a classroom and instrumental teacher and got his doctorate degree in music pedagogy. He was Professor of Music education at Hochschule für Musik Dresden since 1995, chairing this institution as Rector from 2003-2010.

Timo Klemettinen

Timo Klemettinen was born in Imatra, Finland 1965. He entered the Sibelius Academy 1984 and graduated with Master of Music (MMus) in 1994. After graduating, Klemettinen worked as a freelance musician, composer, music teacher, vice director of Kuusamo Music Schools and director of a Rauma Music School. Since 1999, he has been working as the Managing Director of the Association of Finnish Music Schools. During the years 2007-2011 Klemettinen acted as the Chairman of the Finnish Art School Association. He is also one of the founders of the association. In 2003, he was appointed as the General Secretary of the Finnish Music Council which he is a founding member of. During 2008-2012 he was the Chairman of the Finnish Music Council. Mr Klemettinen is well experienced in international networking. After working for five years (2008-2012) on the board of the European Music Council (EMC) he was elected as its Chairman. From 2007 to 2013, Klemettinen was a member of the Board of the International Music Council (IMC). Since 2007 he has been a member of the European Music School Union (EMU) presidium and since 1.1.2015 Klemettinen has been working as its Managing Director. Other international working experience he has gained by working actively in Nordic culture organizations, European Conservatory Union (AEC) and Unesco Advisory Committee for Arts Education.

Gerhard Sammer

Gerhard Sammer received a M.Phil. in Secondary School Teaching Education (music, mathematics, computer science, instrumental teaching) from the University of Innsbruck;  he studied orchestral conducting; and received a Ph.D. in Music Education. He taught in secondary schools, worked as a staff scientist at the University of Mozarteum Salzburg, and collaborated with the department of music education in Innsbruck. In 2004 he received the title of Professor of music education from the University for Music in Würzburg. Since 2008 he has worked in the function of the Dean of Studies, and since 2015 as President of EAS; he works freelance in orchestral conducting and as artistic director of the “Tyrolean Chamber Orchestra InnStrumenti”.

Blasko Smilevski

Born in Macedonia. Studied International Public Law. Worked as Secretary International Relations for Jeunesses Musicales Macedonia for 10 years. In 2000 he became youth advisor of the Macedonia Ministry of Youth and Sport. He was Chairman of the Youth Affairs Working Group of the Central European Initiative, member of the Stability Pact Youth Working Group 2001-2003 and member of the Youth Ministries Committee (CDEJ) of the Council of Europe 2001-2002. In 2002 he was hired as youth policy and youth development consultant for the World Bank, working on youth empowerment programs with strong creativity, innovation and culture components in post-conflict countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Tajikistan, Kosovo, Georgia) as well as Russia, Turkey and Moldova. In the period 1994-2008 he has served Jeunesses Musicales International as Board member, Vice-President and President, collaborating and leading many non-formal learning youth music projects. At the end of 2008 he was appointed JMI Secretary General.