CREATIVE DIRECTION
VASKO ATANASOVSKI | SLOVENIA
Saxophonist and flutist Vasko Atanasovski is one of the most creative and versatile Slovenian composers and musicians, well known for his cross-genre collaborations with world famous jazz, rock,
classical, traditional musicians and his masterful approach to all styles of music. Up to this date he has released 15 highly acclaimed albums and earned numerous audience and critics’ compliments for his performances and compositions home and abroad. He is a regular guest on the European festivals and concert circuit and has also performed in India, China, Latin America and New York. His original compositions have also found a way into the world of theatre, dance and puppet shows, repertoires of eminent soloists, orchestras, ensembles and choirs.
Selected music collaborations: Living Colour (USA), Hindi Zahra (F), Marc Ribot (USA), Vlatko Stefanovski (MK), Tommy Emmanuel (AUS), Matija Dedić (CRO), Michel Godard (F), Simone Zanchini (IT), Glen Velez (USA), Bojan Z (F), Tamara Obrovac (Cro), Vasil Hadzimanov (SRB), Zoltan Lantos (H), Bratko Bibič, Xu Fengxia (China), Krunoslav Levačić (CRO), Ewald Oberleitner (A), Karmina Šilec & Carmina Slovenica, Vasil Hadzimanov (SRB), Damir Imamović (BIH)… And with choreographers and directors: Silvan Omerzu, Yulia Roschina, Miha Golob, Vito Taufer, Brane Potocan, Jernej Lorenci, Mojca Horvat, Jasna Knez, Matevz Gregoric, Peter Bostjancic…
Selected concerts & festivals: Festival Ljubljana (SLO), Townhall (New York, NY), ‘SallyCan’t Dance Festival’ (Beijing, China), European Week of Culture in India (New Delhi, Bombay…), Niceto (Buenos Aires), Alpentoene (CH), International Jazz Festival Muenster (D), Xong festival (A, I, CH), Cankarjev dom (SLO), Druga godba (SLO), Festival Maribor (SLO), Porgy&Bess Vienna, Jazz & Wine festival (I), Off Fest (MK), Rasa (HOL), Henry le Boeuf Hall – Balkantraffik (B), Euro Jazz Festival (Athens), Sava centar (SRB), Mediawave (H), Pula film festival (CRO), Linzfest (A), Crossroads (I), MIDEM (Cannes, F), Jazz festival Ljubljana…
SARA RENAR | CROATIA
Sara Renar is a recording and performing artist from Zagreb, Croatia and praised as one of the best and bravest new generation Balkan singers – songwriters. Her music style can be described as experimental/indie/pop mixing subtle melodies with electronic and theatrical elements. A former architect with a Master’s degree, she has left her office job to pursue a full time career in music. Performing mostly in her mother Croatian tongue, she has won multiple regional awards for her music and live performances including the IMPALA European indie album of the year nomination.
Over the last ten years Renar has played close to a thousand gigs, including major regional venues and festivals such as MENT festival (Ljubljana, Slovenia), SuperUho festival (Croatia), Exit festival (Serbia), Lake fest (Montenegro), Mastering the Music Business festival (Bucharest, Romania) and has performed as the opening act for Manu Chao, Macy Gray and Rundek Cargo Trio. She has released five albums: “Djeca” (“Children”) in 2013, “Jesen” (“Autumn”) in 2014, “Tišina” (“Silence”) 2016, the live album “Gdje povlačiš crtu?” (“Where do you draw the line?”) in 2018 and “Šuti i pjevaj” (“Shut up and sing”) in 2021.
She also writes and performs music for theater, multimedia and multi – genre projects. Some of her most notable collaborations are the EP “Hyperventilation” with the renowned Croatian DJ Insolate, a performance and album with the critically acclaimed poet Marija Dejanovic and the soundtrack collaboration on the multimedia computer game “Radio Nostalgia from Mars” OST produced by Demagog studio (New York – Belgrade).
KAROLA SAKOTNIK | AUSTRIA
Her work is located at the interface of art and business. She is aware that this implies encouraging people to stepping out of comfort zones, overcoming tabus and enlarge personal boundaries. A path her clients walk and which she pilots carefully, with kindness and persistence at the same time. She works with leaders from all fields, namely the industry like Daimler or Bosch as well as from the educational field or newly also with emerging artistic leaders. Her expertise is based on many years of international experience as the artistic director and manager in large corporations like of Hapag Lloyd Cruises and AIDA cruises and a successful career as an actress, director, singer at Opera, Next Liberty Graz and traveling Europe f.e. performing at the Casino Estoril and Red-Nose clown in the field of humour and trauma work. She sums up her work as Future Skills Farming. It is about designing experiences that activate the curiosity for culture development and creativity. She has been doing that as keynote speaker, New Leadership coach and trainer for over 10 years now and as an artist and author for over 35 years.
An illness led her to research into new ways of expressing herself. It led to creating new connections between performing art, culture, and people in the business world. She developed Future Skills Farming. She is all about inspiring experienced, starting, and future leaders of both worlds to cultivating a human work (and thus life) culture. It is her conviction that this will have a positive impact on the fast-transforming world of today. Her focus is New Leadership and its implications for innovation in business or artistic expression in the arts. How to lead people to work together well, harvest trust from differing opinions and cultivating fields so new ideas can emerge, with the goal to enhance innovative or artistic thinking.