Who are the EMC Fellows?
We are very happy to present the new group of selected EMC Fellows 2024 - 2025.
Ten emerging music professionals bringing once again an outstanding mix of interests, experiences and perspectives to the EMC network thanks to their different backgrounds, variety of aspirations and geographical diversity.
Read through their bios to know more about who they are and make sure not to miss the upcoming EFM in Sofia (5-7 June 2024) to get to know them in person.
Iveri Kekenadze Gustafsson
Iveri is a classical pianist with an MA degree in European Studies from Lund University and more than four years of experience in EU-funded project management.
Currently, he is doing a Blue Book Traineeship at the European Commission. At the same time, he is a board member of the European Performing Arts Students' Association and a member of the International Relations Coordinators' working group at the European Association of Conservatoires (AEC).
Originally Georgian, Iveri is based in Sweden, pursuing his Interpretation Diploma education and freelancing as a soloist and chamber musician around Europe. Iveri has has published several articles on internationalisation in higher music education, Europeanisation and EU enlargement for the European Studies Review journal and has forthcoming publications for the Baltic Worlds.
Jack Mahony
Jack is an Irish trombonist, composer and arts administrator working with the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras (IAYO) in Cork, Ireland. Through his work with IAYO, Jack is dedicated to contributing to the development of music education and promotion of ensemble music making throughout Ireland, and aims to engage in cultural policy change to ensure that quality music education is provided to every student in the country.
Jack completed his Bachelors of Music at the MTU Cork School of Music in 2021, specialising in trombone performance, composition and arranging. As a trombonist, Jack has worked with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Cork Opera House Orchestra to name a few, and he is a passionate jazz trombonist.
As an avid composer and arranger, Jack aims to challenge conventional ideas of music and to make his music equally interesting for both the performer and audience. He also devotes himself to providing fun and accessible music for young musicians, writing music that is both engaging while also providing a unique challenge.
Joana Isabel da Costa
Joana is a portuguese singer and cultural manager, based in Brussels. Over the past five years, she has been working as a cultural manager, by organising different events such as Lisbon Choral Conducting Masterclass and World Choral EXPO 2022, in Lisbon. At the moment, she is the Session Manager of the World Youth Choir, a project that brings together singers from all over the world for a rehearsal session and an international tour. Joana is also a member of the Youth Committee of the European Choral Association.
Joana firmly believes in the power and benefits of music, especially singing, for both mental and physical health. She sees it not only as a personal source of well-being but also as a transformative force capable of positively impacting both performers and audiences, ultimately contributing to positive change in the world.
Eager to connect with the other fellows, she is confident that this program will foster meaningful connections.
Manu Rojo
Culture activist and fundraising consultant specializing in music. With a background in music production and management, he collaborates on international projects, including with the European Parliament. Five years ago, he founded a non-profit cultural association to support young artists. He is currently completing his bachelor's degree at ESMUC (Barcelona).
Manu is a partner of Bonito Sound recording label where he is fostering artist careers.
From music management to film production and global brand commercials, Manu is bringing together culture advocacy, creativity and innovation.
Maria da Paz Carvalho
Maria da Paz is a 26-year-old worker in production, communication and booking in the music field. She works for Miso Music Portugal, an association that promotes contemporary and new music through the creation, production, and support of composers and musicians. She is also the co-founder of Jazz na Vila, a small-dimension jazz festival in a rural area of Portugal, in which she is the production director and part of the artistic direction. Having played the cello when younger, Maria da Paz is to these days always eager to listen and develop her musical sensibility.
Maria da Paz is also a teacher of Portuguese for Foreigners and soon she will hold an MA in Comparative Studies at Lisbon University.
Side by side with her interest in music, she is very fond of theatre and playwriting, contemporary visual art and dance.
Mercè Borràs
Mercè Borràs is a cultural manager and artistic curator based in Barcelona. Graduated in Communication and Creative Industries from the University of Barcelona, she currently serves as Project Manager at Acadèmia Catalana de la Música, where she works with organizations within Catalonia's music sector to advocate for their rights and demands while fostering connections within the industry.
In addition to her professional commitments, Mercè is pursuing a Master's degree in Cultural Management. She has actively contributed to the music ecosystem in diverse roles, including mentoring emerging talents and curating artistic programming for festivals and events. Her academic pursuits have also led her to delve into the intricate legal and contractual dynamics of the Spanish music industry in her final research thesis.
Outside of her work and studies, Mercè can be found discovering new music within Barcelona's vibrant music scene or playing field hockey.
Monica Vejgaard
Monica Vejgaard is a Danish flutist, composer, and multimedia artist dedicated to amplifying the voices of emerging artists and creating positive changes within the cultural and creative sector.
Passionate about turning ideas into action, she is the part of organising several cultural events in Denmark and abroad, while also working as a Cultural Policy Consultant for the National Union of Students in Denmark, empowering European art students to effect change and cultivate connections.
She is a member of the EDI-working group within the AEC, a board member of the Danish Flute Festival, and the President of the European Performing Arts Students' Association (EPASA). Monica is currently doing an internship at The Royal Danish Embassy in Tokyo, where she engages in public and cultural diplomacy.
Sanhita Saha
Sanhita is an aspiring cultural policy mediator from Pondicherry, India. An accomplished amateur pianist, she is conversant in 7 languages (French, English, German, Italian, Bengali, Hindi and Sanskrit). Following undergraduate studies in multilingualism and music in India, she recently completed a Franco-German double Master in socio-cultural anthropology, specialising in music ethnography at the Paris École des hautes études en sciences sociales and at Frankfurt am Main's Goethe University. She has worked for Radio France, participated in international conferences on music and migration, cultural policies, and currently serves as an interpreter for asylum seekers to guarantee fair administrative presentation and access to medical treatment.
Her passion for cultural policies brings her to the EMC, where she looks forward to meeting peers, professionals and scholars, gaining knowledge about advocacy in music education policy as well as artistic mobility between the EU and the Global South.
Sarah Lockhart
Sarah is a music teacher and arts administrator from Scotland with a professional interest in education and cultural policy. Sarah has worked for Creative Scotland since 2021 where her roles have included work on the Youth Music Initiative, in Youth Engagement and supporting the Music team to deliver funding for the benefit of Scotland’s professional and community music sectors.
Collaborative international working has been a key part of Sarah’s studies and career, from orchestral exchange as a tiny beginner cellist, to undergraduate studies through Erasmus+ and, most recently, participating in the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms programme. Sarah looks forward to connecting with fellows and European Music Council members through the fellowship programme.
Silvia Nocentini
CEO & Founder of NoOx Worldwide, innovative enterprise project in the music business, bridging Italy/Europe, the Afro diaspora and Sub Saharan Africa, starting from Senegal. Pioneering the Afro Urban music market in Italy since 2018.
Artist & Label Manager, Creative Director, International Relations, Talent Scout, Music Industry Consultant, Bridging & Connecting 24/7.
2022 Keychange Innovator and 2022 Genova Global Goals Awards Winner, 2021 European Music Exporter, 2020 ALT POWER MUSIC LIST - Shesaid.so; Certified: Music Industry Essentials at Billboard X Yellowbrick (NYU Clive Davis Institute) and Bachelor graduated in Arts, Performing Arts, Events & Cultural Enterprises Management at Università degli Studi di Firenze.