MENTORS

Lea is a creative entrepreneur with a keen interest in everything that happens behind the scenes and how artistic visions become reality. As festival director of Festival & Friends, she has quickly created a unique format that challenges the boundaries of classical music. The festival has rapidly gained recognition as an innovative force in the Danish classical music scene and attracts a younger and different audience.

Lea is a trained pianist – she received the Leonie Sonning Talent Award in 2020 – and also holds a degree from CBS, where she combines artistic insight with strategic thinking. Her work is characterised by an innovative approach that creates new opportunities for both artists and audiences.

Nana Senderovitz works as an artistic producer at the leading theatre Sort/Hvid, where she is responsible for musical theatre activities. She has more than 10 years of experience creating ambitious, cross-aesthetic art projects on both a large and small scale, nationally and internationally. Nana holds a Master's degree in Performance Design and Social Sciences, and she has a background in performance art, having worked with Sisters Hope and SIGNA for several years.

Olav Hesseldahl is an idealistic entrepreneur who is deeply committed to promoting the values of democracy. Among other things, he is behind the Youth Agency and the Youth People's Meeting, which attracts and engages up to 30,000 young people in Valby Park every year. As a trained philosopher, he loves questions more than answers, embraces mistakes and experiments, and manages to push and pull his surroundings towards new insights.

Hesseldahl holds board positions at Roskilde Festival and Folkemødet på Bornholm, and on a daily basis he leads the movement GRUNDLOVSFESTEN, which works to create more community, cohesion and dedication to democracy and the Danish Constitution.

Anja T. Lahrmann is a composer, producer and singer who moves elegantly between art forms. She is the solo artist Excelsior, and as a composer she has most recently worked on the hybrid choral work “Det yderste hav” (The Outer Sea), performed in collaboration with the Greenlandic choir Ingiulik, and created sound design and music for the performance “Hjärtat i handen” (Heart in Hand) in collaboration with two choreographers.

Anja T. Lahrmann's artistic practice spans a wide range and unfolds through unique collaborations across cultures and artistic disciplines. Her musical approach is characterised by openness, DIY and collectivism, reflecting a curious and collaborative approach that breaks down the boundaries between art forms and genres.

Lil Lacy is a Danish-American composer and experimental cellist whose curiosity drives her work across genres and media. She creates music that connects people, spaces and stories – from orchestral works to installations. Lil is known for challenging classical frameworks and creating universes where sounds both reflect and question the major issues of our time, such as climate, culture and society. With her work Aliento del Mar, written for accordionist Bjarke Mogensen and the Gävle Symphony Orchestra, she explores the forces of the tides and the challenges of plastic pollution in the oceans.

Lil Lacy is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus and the University of California in San Diego. She has received the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize in 2020, among other awards.

In her practice as a photographer and artist, Fryd Frydendahl excels at challenging herself and societal taboos with her razor-sharp artworks. Her photographs convey more than meets the eye, and she manages to be personal without becoming overly private.

Fryd's work and exhibitions have reached far and wide: from New York to Copenhagen to Hvide Sande, and her pieces can be experienced at venues such as the Statens Museum for Kunst, Det Kongelige Bibliotek, and V1. She has published several books and also serves as the director of Fotoskolen Fatamorgana.

We meet Majken Overgaard at the intersection of art, science and technology, where her keen eye spots new connections and synergies that create a creative environment of new ideas, experiments and inventions. She has a curious and novel approach to innovation through contemporary art, speculative design and science fiction.

As a part of the Korridor collective, she explores digital art forms and technologies that can expand the possibilities for artists and culture. She is also a frequently sought-after speaker who is able to dissect how art can function as a critical lens for understanding the rapidly changing digital reality.

As a member and manager of Efterklang, a band that has released albums on labels such as 4AD and City Slang since 2003 – as well as holding a host of other roles in the music industry – Rasmus Stolberg has carved out a sustainable career in music without compromising his ideals.

Originally trained in Music Management at RMC and with an inspiring ability to launch new ideas and projects – examples include The Lake Foundation, which runs the internet radio station The Lake, and the Badesøen Festival in Albertslund. Rasmus is also the producer and curator of Brodie Sessions, which creates and immortalises intimate concerts (on 16mm film) with Danish and international artists.

Mikkel Schou works at the intersection of interdisciplinary art and experimental music. He is the artistic director of K!ART, an ensemble focusing on new instrumental music and post-instrumental performance art, as well as the co-director of MINU_festival_for_expanded_music, which annually explores the boundaries between experimental music and other media. As a curator, Schou creates events as musical compositions, where the works frame and put each other into perspective.

He is trained as a guitarist at DJM and DKDM, specialising in contemporary music and artistic research, and he performs on acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitar, electric bass and live electronics. Schou has received the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize and the Fair Practice Prize in 2024.

When it comes to breaking conventions and forging your own path, Signe Hede-Tobiassen is a shining example of how creativity and thinking outside the box can open doors to a career in the music world. She started out as a bassist and songwriter in Nelson Can and has since worked as a manager, at record labels and as a radio host.

Signe is trained at RMC and CBS, and she has always followed her creative instincts with a ‘meaningful working life’ as the focal point for herself and the artists she has advised. Today, Signe works as director of More Music Group, which creates digital solutions for music education.

As founder and executive director of the award-winning non-profit association Another Life, which works with representation, mental health and discrimination, Rosa Lois Balle Yahiya has made an important mark on Danish music and cultural life.

Over the past ten years, Rosa Lois has worked in various roles in the Danish music industry, including the live sector, interest organisations and artist management. She is a graduate of Music Management at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen.

For Kristian Humaidan, it's all about flow and he's never stood still: from an early career as a rapper in UFO Yepha, solo albums, music for TV and film, workshops and camps for troubled youth, to working as a meditation instructor.

Today, Humaidan is an entrepreneur at SoundWheel, a company that has developed a new way of composing and combining progressive music with visualisation exercises. As CEO, he uses his flow and focus to make the app and the company international.

You can't talk about director and filmmaker Phie Ambo without talking about idealism and green social initiatives. With a strong belief that culture and art can make the world a better place, she has dedicated her artistic work to projects and initiatives that promote green transition. She is an award-winning director that has worked with topics such as humanity, technology, emotions and brain science throughout her career.

For the past 10 years, Phie has devoted both her artistic and private life to promoting the green agenda with films such as 70/30 and Organiseret vildskab (Organised Wildness). She has also founded Den Grønne Friskole (The Green Free School).

Nis Bysted has a special ability to make things happen. Through his own musical projects, as a producer and mentor for leading artists, and as head of one Denmark's most progressive labels, ESCHO, he has established himself as a creative and curious visionary who has made a significant mark on the Danish music scene and cultural landscape.

Bysted's multifaceted work also testifies to a special talent and understanding of how to engage in different contexts and navigate multiple roles and projects simultanously. Nis Bysted can help you see opportunities rather than limitations as he generously shares his knowledge and experiences working in the field of music.

If you have an idea for a music tech platform that will make a difference in the music industry, Lars Ettrup is an excellent choice for a mentor. He is the founder of LinkFire, an international music and marketing company, and has a keen interest in music technology and entrepreneurship.

Ettrup holds a degree Middlesex University and the IT University of Copenhagen and has more than 15 years of experience as both an advisor and investor. Ettrup stands for visionary ideas and innovation in an industry that has not always kept up with the times.

Mika Persdotter is a Swedish violist, improviser and singer who has been living in Copenhagen since 2015. With a background in both classical and folk music, Mika is a curious and experimental musician who works across genres. She is part of the string trio Halvcirkel, founder of the musician collective Damkapellet and the record label, INGA Records , and has her own solo project, Mika Akim.

Educated at the conservatories in Gothenburg, Prague and Copenhagen, Mika has also completed an artistic postgraduate soloist programme at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. She has collaborated with a number of prominent artists and ensembles such as Terry Riley, Roger Eno, Signe Lykke, Georg Riedel and Concerto Copenhagen.

Students at RMC can attest to the fact that Carolina Echeverri is always generous and committed when sharing and passing on her vast knowledge and experience. With more than 20 years of experience in the cultural sector and as a performing artist, Echeverri is well equipped to provide the right guidance.

Echeverri currently works as a senior advisor for Music Export Denmark and has an extensive international network. In her own artistic practice, Carolina focuses on photography and has exhibited at festivals around the world.

Anja Pil Christoffersen is a relatively unusual hybrid, being a trained lawyer and a performing artist. For the past 10 years, she has been writing and releasing music under the stage name ANYA, while also training as a lawyer specialising in music rights.

Since 2022, she has been behind the start-up company Playback, a royalty management platform aimed at independent artists and labels. She is passionate about increasing diversity – both in music and entrepreneurship – and she draws on many years of professional and personal experience in her consulting work.

Manus Bell is the director of Rapolitics, an organization that empowers youth through rap and hip-hop. In addition to his 10 years of experience working with vulnerable young people as a rap coach and mentor, Manus Bell has made his mark on the Danish rap scene with two albums and over 100 concerts on his CV. He has also made his mark in the commercial music industry as co-founder and director of the music company Affiliated.

Manus Bell has a vision of making rap a voice for people in vulnerable positions and works under the banner of ‘creating a courageous young generation that knows their rights, dares to stand up for them and speak out against injustice’.

Henrik Vibskov has, more than most, managed to put his creative and artistic talent to use in new, exciting and innovative ways. Since 2001, he has designed and produced collections in his own name, while also working as a musician, curator, and artist with exhibitions worldwide.

Furthermore, Henrik Vibskov is a professor at the Design School in Kolding and a frequent guest lecturer at Danish and international cultural and art institutions. His multifaceted career testifies to an ever-boundless and exploratory creativity that is always curious and interested in the context of the tasks at hand.

Johannes Dybkjær Andersson is one of Denmark's most sought-after career advisors for creative professionals and an expert in talent development and creative development. He is the owner of &AMPLIFY, career advisor at Autor, jury member and mentor at Karrierekanonen for Bandakademiet, and responsible for Live Camp Forstærket at Smukfest.

Johannes Dybkjær Andersson is also a former A&R and International Marketing Manager at Sony Music, Creative Development Manager at DR P3 and CEO & Creative Director at Volume. In addition to his industry work, Johannes has a background as a professional musician.

Rikke Frisk is a festival director with more than 20 years of experience in the arts and culture industry, where she has worked with development, management and strategy. Her work is characterised by creative solutions, strong relationships and a keen understanding of audiences, partners and artistic ambitions.

Since 2017, Frisk has been festival director of the Copenhagen Opera Festival, where she is responsible for strategic development, day-to-day management and international partnerships.

Rikke Frisk is also chair of the board of the ALICE venue and has previously been head of the secretariat for WOMEX and day-to-day manager of STRØM. With a background in architectural studies from the Royal Danish Academy and further education in arts and culture management, she combines a strong aesthetic understanding with solid management experience.

Interdisciplinarity, artistic processes and creative entrepreneurship are key words in Mette Ohlendorff's two decades-long career in the cultural sector. She enjoys connecting creative souls with projects and helping them grow into something big and significant. Her heart burns for art, concepts and processes. She loves working in groups and has always built communities around her.

Ohlendorff works in music, film, fashion, photography, events, talks, festivals and culture at large. She is particularly interested in diversity, well-being and community. She has taught at many of the Danish creative educational institutions and currently works at the National Film School of Denmark.

Kat Jarby is an artist manager, music curator and coach. Since 2013, Kat has run and developed the company Kaja MANAGEMENT, which represents some of Denmark's most innovative and interesting artists on the experimental music scene. She has worked with music promotion for over 15 years, specialising in music marketing from her education at the University of Brighton.

Jarby is also a certified coach and has coached over a hundred artists and bands in career planning and promotion. One of Kat's key issues is mental well-being in the music industry – both on and off stage – and she has written columns, participated in debates, given presentations and talked about the subject on national TV. Kat Jarby is also the spokesperson for the newly established association for artist managers in Denmark, Danske Artist Managers (DAM).

Carla Cammilla Hjort is a creative and cultural entrepreneur with a deep passion for building and nurturing communities, supporting organisational transformation and bringing visions to life. Carla started her career as a DJ and music producer, founding her first creative studio, ArtRebels, in 2006. Since then, she has added several projects to her portfolio, such as Trailerpark Festival, Social Service Club and SPACE10.

Today, she heads a new philanthropic foundation for architecture and design called re:arc institute. Driven by her belief in creative solutions to societal challenges, Carla initiates concepts and projects and nurtures communities that aim to deliver positive change in the world.

Randi Pontoppidan is an internationally renowned composer, vocalist and performer who works across genres such as free improvisation, jazz, performance art and electroacoustic music. Known for her experimental vocal techniques and live electronic processing, she creates unique sound universes where the boundaries between traditions and styles dissolve.

She has been compared to icons such as Diamanda Galás and Maja S. K. Ratkje and has performed at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall. Pontoppidan has been nominated several times for the Danish Music Awards Jazz and in 2020 also received a nomination for Steppeulven as vocalist of the year.

Marie Højlund is a composer, sound artist and lecturer in Sound Studies at Aarhus University. She specialises in creating site-specific art and listening experiences. These include sensory concerts, “sensory nurseries” in hospitals, sound installations in public spaces, as composer-in-residence at Aarhus Theatre, and pop music under the stage name Kh Marie.

Marie has previously produced and composed music in various bands, including Tiger Tunes, Marybell Katastrophy and, most recently, Nephew. She has received the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Honorary Scholarship for her multi-track work as an artist.

Alexander Stevns has more than 10 years of experience as an initiator in civil society. He has founded and developed several organisations and is currently the director of URBAN 13, a large urban project under Bispeengbuen in the borderland between Copenhagen and Frederiksberg.

Today, the former car park consists of a venue and cultural centre, an entrepreneurial community, a street sports environment, a growth house, workshops, outdoor art spaces and restaurants. All built from scratch. Stevns is also co-founder of Kulturens Selvstændige, Carpark Festival, Street Under Buen and sits on the board of the Academy for Social Innovation and other boards.

Line is an entrepreneur driven by creating positive social change and transformation. She is the founder and former CEO of the consulting bureau IS IT A BIRD, which specialises in understanding human behaviour and social trends. She has helped numerous companies and institutions realise their strategy and brand so that it is relevant to society and the people around them.

Groes is keen to ask new questions and now works as an independent consultant, board member and teacher on SOUND's incubator programme. In addition, she has recently embarked on an adventurous project: writing a novel.

Neel began her career as a pianist with a soloist education in both piano and chamber music from DKDM. However, she also developed an early interest in behind-the-scenes work and has been involved with the Kammermusik på Lundsgaard festival since 2017, becoming its administrative director in 2020.

From 2019, Neel was employed by Nordic Artists Management as an artist manager and project manager for orchestra tours and festival projects. Since September 2024, Neel has been music director at Mogens Dahl Concert Hall, where she is in charge of artistic planning and is ensemble director for the Mogens Dahl Chamber Choir.

Aisha Thorsen is the founder and artistic director of Unikke Stemmer (Unique Voices), a company that works to strengthen communities and empower marginalised children and young people through music and songwriting. She is a singer and producer and also holds a master's degree in educational sociology from Aarhus University, specialising in arts-based initiatives and social change.

With over 12 years of experience as a self-employed person, Thorsen has a solid background in both the social and musical fields, which gives her a special understanding of entrepreneurship and collaboration across different actors.

Lawand Shakur Othman is a Danish-Iraqi music producer, DJ and composer. Since 2000, he has been a leading pioneer in turntablism and as a music producer and composer for film, television and theatre. He has also distinguished himself as a pianist and bandleader through countless live performances both as a soloist and with various bands. From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027, he will serve on the Danish Arts Foundation's scholarship committee for music.

Until recently, Andreas Groth Clausen was Head of Partnerships at the Roskilde Festival Group, but has now founded his own organisation, Landjord, which works to take agricultural land out of production and establish wild nature in its place. Throughout his career, Andreas has moved between the worlds of culture and the wider world. He is passionate about business development, partnerships, sponsorships, marketing and, in general, articulating the softer values in a world where they are not always easily heard.