Marios Joannou Elia Cyprus President Marios Joannou Elia has been characterized by CNN as "the child prodigy of contemporary music" and "the man for monumental events." He is the creator of globally impactful works – such as the open-air multimedia symphony "Autosymponic" ("the work of the century" according to DW). Polytopic compositions include "Sound of Vladivostok" (Grand Prix "Silver Archer" of the Far East) and "Sound of Kyoto" ("a masterpiece of sound" according to Tokyo Weekender). Elia studied in Salzburg and Vienna. Prominent awards include the Music Prize of the Academy of Athens and the "Golden Apple" for the "best cultural event" in Germany. He served as the artistic director of major initiatives, including the European Capital of Culture – Pafos 2017. He is an ordinary member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and heads the art class on its nomination committee.
Dario Cebic Croatia Member Academic, Prof. Dr. Dario Cebic (ordinary member of European Academy of Sciences and Arts). He attended elementary and secondary school, after which he started higher education in piano, composition, double bass, music science, music theory, music pedagogy, conducting and musicology. In 2007 he starts doctoral studies in music science. In 2012 he finished his doctoral study (Dr. Phil) at "Universität für Musik and darstellende Kunst" in Graz, and postgraduate study in composition at "Universität für Musik and darstellende Kunst in Vienna" under professor Michael Obst. Specialisation: "Hans Eisler“ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin; "Universität“ Freiburg, "Hochschule für Musik“ Frankfurt and "Impuls Academy“. Selected prizes and awards: On February 5, 2020 he was awarded by the Croatian President for art, pedagogical work, and composition. 1st Prize on International Music Competition in Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, London, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Mailand, Prague, Toronto, Sydney, Lisbon etc.
Rūta Girdzijauskienė Lithuania Member Rūta Girdzijauskienė is Professor of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. She is President of the Lithuanian Music Teachers Association, a board member of the European Association for Music in Schools (EAS), and a board member of the European Network for Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children (EuNET MERYC). On Rūta Girdzijauskienė's initiative, the Lithuanian Music Olympiad for Students has been organised since 2012. Her publications include two monographs, ten teacher handbooks, and more than a hundred research studies and practice-based articles. The Professor’s research interests lie in the fields of research methodology, methodology of music education, musical creativity, vocal pedagogy, and teacher education.
Jiřina Jiřičková Czechia Member Jiřina Jiřičková is a Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Education, Charles University, a member of the Department of Music Education there. At the same time, she is a choirmaster of a children's choir. Jiřina Jiřičková is a member of the Executive Committee of the Society for Music Education of Czechia and a Vice-President of the Czech Orff Society (COS). She lectures workshops for both, children and teachers.
Ruta Kanteruka Latvia Member Ruta Kanteruka has been a member of the organizing committee of the International Music Olympiad since 2012. In 2014, she organized the 2nd International Music Olympiad in Riga and was a member of the jury of the 4th International Music Olympiad in Tallinn. Ruta Kanteruka is the National Coordinator of EAS; head of the Latvian Music Teachers' Association since 2010; and music teacher with 20 years of experience currently working at King's College Latvia.
Kristi Kiilu Estonia Member Kristi Kiilu is a professor of music education at the Estonian Academy of Music. She is a member of the Estonian Music Teachers Society and Estonian national coordinator in the European Association for Music in Schools. She also works as a choir conductor of the Tallinn Boy’s preparatory choirs.
Kristi Kiilu is active in international research projects in collaboration with researchers from several universities around the world. Her main research topics are music pedagogy, music education curricula, singing cultures in Estonian childhood, assessment in music schools, etc.
Chrisa Kitsiou Greece Member Chrisa Kitsiou was born in Larissa, Greece. She holds piano, music theory diplomas, a Master of Music Education degree and a Bachelor of Music degree. She has participated in orchestras and small ensembles, and has given many solo recitals of varied repertoire, including classical, Greek, jazz and Latin music. Her vast experience as a pianist includes several opera productions with the Choir of Thessaloniki, as well as ballet examinations of the London Royal Academy of Dance. In addition to teaching piano, Ms. Kitsiou specializes in ear training and music theory. Chrisa Kitsiou has written articles on music aptitude tests and is the author of "Music Theory, Solfège, Developing Aural Skills".
Gabriela Karin Konkol Poland Member Gabriela Karin Konkol, associate professor at the Faculty of Choral Conducting, Church Music, Artistic Education, Rhythmics and Jazz of the Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdansk, Poland. Author of the European Integration – Bologna Process. Implications for Music Education monograph, many articles and chapters in books in the field of music education. Member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of Music Education (Ljubljana) and Školski vjesnik – Journal for Pedagogic Theory and Practice (Split). Lecturer/workshop leader in many European countries and also in Israel, Russia and Turkey. Jury member of international music competitions and Olympiad. Member of ISME. Elected European Association for Music in Schools board member (2009-2013).
Georgia Neofytou Cyprus Member Dr. Georgia Neofytou Music Inspector for Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth Cyprus since 2015. She has a PhD in Music Education (Authentic Student Assessment) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She holds an MMus (Musicology and Performance) from SI-UK Sheffield University and an MSc (Education, Leadership and Management) from UoL/University of Limassol. She presented papers and workshops on music educational content in international conferences in Belgium, Italy, Austria, China, Greece, USA, Lithuania etc. She has published papers and articles in Greek and international journals on music education and has published the book "Learning Music". Her research interests include student assessment, contemporary methodologies, 21st century skills etc. Until recently she was the National Coordinator for Cyprus for the European Association for Music in Schools (EAS). She is the chair of the organising committee of the 6th International Music Olympiad Cyprus 2024.
Branka Rotar Pance Slovenia Member Branka Rotar Pance is an Associate Professor at the Department of Music Pedagogy at the Academy in Music (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia). She gives lectures on music didactic at the Bachelor and Masters programme and supervises doctoral students. Her research interests lie in the different fields of music education, motivation, working with gifted students, musical creativity, ICT in music education, lifelong learning of music teachers, arts and cultural education and the history of Slovenian music pedagogy. She is the chair of the Slovene Music Olympiad and a jury member at the International Music Olympiads.
Marios Joannou Elia has been characterized by CNN as "the child prodigy of contemporary music" and "the man for monumental events." He is the creator of globally impactful works – such as the open-air multimedia symphony "Autosymponic" ("the work of the century" according to DW). Polytopic compositions include "Sound of Vladivostok" (Grand Prix "Silver Archer" of the Far East) and "Sound of Kyoto" ("a masterpiece of sound" according to Tokyo Weekender). Elia studied in Salzburg and Vienna. Prominent awards include the Music Prize of the Academy of Athens and the "Golden Apple" for the "best cultural event" in Germany. He served as the artistic director of major initiatives, including the European Capital of Culture – Pafos 2017. He is an ordinary member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and heads the art class on its nomination committee.
Academic, Prof. Dr. Dario Cebic (ordinary member of European Academy of Sciences and Arts). He attended elementary and secondary school, after which he started higher education in piano, composition, double bass, music science, music theory, music pedagogy, conducting and musicology. In 2007 he starts doctoral studies in music science. In 2012 he finished his doctoral study (Dr. Phil) at "Universität für Musik and darstellende Kunst" in Graz, and postgraduate study in composition at "Universität für Musik and darstellende Kunst in Vienna" under professor Michael Obst. Specialisation: "Hans Eisler“ Hochschule für Musik, Berlin; "Universität“ Freiburg, "Hochschule für Musik“ Frankfurt and "Impuls Academy“. Selected prizes and awards: On February 5, 2020 he was awarded by the Croatian President for art, pedagogical work, and composition. 1st Prize on International Music Competition in Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, London, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Mailand, Prague, Toronto, Sydney, Lisbon etc.
Rūta Girdzijauskienė is Professor of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. She is President of the Lithuanian Music Teachers Association, a board member of the European Association for Music in Schools (EAS), and a board member of the European Network for Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children (EuNET MERYC). On Rūta Girdzijauskienė's initiative, the Lithuanian Music Olympiad for Students has been organised since 2012. Her publications include two monographs, ten teacher handbooks, and more than a hundred research studies and practice-based articles. The Professor’s research interests lie in the fields of research methodology, methodology of music education, musical creativity, vocal pedagogy, and teacher education.
Jiřina Jiřičková is a Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Education, Charles University, a member of the Department of Music Education there. At the same time, she is a choirmaster of a children's choir. Jiřina Jiřičková is a member of the Executive Committee of the Society for Music Education of Czechia and a Vice-President of the Czech Orff Society (COS). She lectures workshops for both, children and teachers.
Ruta Kanteruka has been a member of the organizing committee of the International Music Olympiad since 2012. In 2014, she organized the 2nd International Music Olympiad in Riga and was a member of the jury of the 4th International Music Olympiad in Tallinn. Ruta Kanteruka is the National Coordinator of EAS; head of the Latvian Music Teachers' Association since 2010; and music teacher with 20 years of experience currently working at King's College Latvia.
Kristi Kiilu is a professor of music education at the Estonian Academy of Music. She is a member of the Estonian Music Teachers Society and Estonian national coordinator in the European Association for Music in Schools. She also works as a choir conductor of the Tallinn Boy’s preparatory choirs.
Chrisa Kitsiou was born in Larissa, Greece. She holds piano, music theory diplomas, a Master of Music Education degree and a Bachelor of Music degree. She has participated in orchestras and small ensembles, and has given many solo recitals of varied repertoire, including classical, Greek, jazz and Latin music. Her vast experience as a pianist includes several opera productions with the Choir of Thessaloniki, as well as ballet examinations of the London Royal Academy of Dance. In addition to teaching piano, Ms. Kitsiou specializes in ear training and music theory. Chrisa Kitsiou has written articles on music aptitude tests and is the author of "Music Theory, Solfège, Developing Aural Skills".
Gabriela Karin Konkol, associate professor at the Faculty of Choral Conducting, Church Music, Artistic Education, Rhythmics and Jazz of the Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdansk, Poland. Author of the European Integration – Bologna Process. Implications for Music Education monograph, many articles and chapters in books in the field of music education. Member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of Music Education (Ljubljana) and Školski vjesnik – Journal for Pedagogic Theory and Practice (Split). Lecturer/workshop leader in many European countries and also in Israel, Russia and Turkey. Jury member of international music competitions and Olympiad. Member of ISME. Elected European Association for Music in Schools board member (2009-2013).
Dr. Georgia Neofytou Music Inspector for Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth Cyprus since 2015. She has a PhD in Music Education (Authentic Student Assessment) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She holds an MMus (Musicology and Performance) from SI-UK Sheffield University and an MSc (Education, Leadership and Management) from UoL/University of Limassol. She presented papers and workshops on music educational content in international conferences in Belgium, Italy, Austria, China, Greece, USA, Lithuania etc. She has published papers and articles in Greek and international journals on music education and has published the book "Learning Music". Her research interests include student assessment, contemporary methodologies, 21st century skills etc. Until recently she was the National Coordinator for Cyprus for the European Association for Music in Schools (EAS). She is the chair of the organising committee of the 6th International Music Olympiad Cyprus 2024.
Branka Rotar Pance is an Associate Professor at the Department of Music Pedagogy at the Academy in Music (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia). She gives lectures on music didactic at the Bachelor and Masters programme and supervises doctoral students. Her research interests lie in the different fields of music education, motivation, working with gifted students, musical creativity, ICT in music education, lifelong learning of music teachers, arts and cultural education and the history of Slovenian music pedagogy. She is the chair of the Slovene Music Olympiad and a jury member at the International Music Olympiads.
