We are excited to introduce our esteemed jury, composed of ten distinguished professionals from diverse backgrounds in the music and cultural sectors. Each juror brings unique expertise and a passion for utilizing music as a catalyst for positive change. Their contributions will be vital in selecting the most impactful projects for this year's awards.
The Music Cities Awards 2024 is set to celebrate the transformative power of music in urban environments worldwide. As a global competition, it recognises outstanding projects that leverage music to foster economic, social, environmental, and cultural development within communities. Since its inception in 2020, the awards have showcased innovative initiatives and inspired advocates dedicated to enhancing their cities through music.
Join us as we unveil the jury members and highlight their significant work and commitment to making cities better through music.
Khadija El Bennaoui, Head of Performing Arts, Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Ms Khadija El Bennaoui is a creative agent who pioneered Art Moves Africa in 2005. She has over two decades of experience in curating artistic programs, event organisation, research, and advocacy to foster the growth of independent arts and cultural sectors in the Global South. She is currently the Head of Performing Arts at the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi and engages with NYU Abu Dhabi as a Visiting Scholar and J-term Visiting Professor, teaching a course on Music and Society. In 2023, Ms El Bennaoui was selected to participate in the European Union/UNESCO Expert Facility and has previously authored the chapter ‘Surviving the Paradoxes of Mobility’ in the UNESCO Global Report 2018, addressing the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. In her capacity as an independent consultant, she has partnered with organisations such as UNESCO, the European Commission, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, and the Ford Foundation, among others.
Enrique Avogadro, Cultural and Creative Promoter, Pulmón Creativo (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Enrique Avogadro is a cultural activator, policy maker, and specialist in cultural and creative management. He was the Minister of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires, Vice Minister of Culture of Argentina, Undersecretary of Creative Economy, and Director of the Metropolitan Design Center of Buenos Aires. During his various terms, along with his team, he demonstrated his commitment and leadership in promoting creative initiatives. Enrique is one of the most recognized voices in the cultural and creative field in Latam. He stands out for his innovative approach in developing policies to promote cultural entrepreneurship and the creative industries.
Nada Alhelabi, MDLBEAST Foundation, General Manager (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Nada Alhelabi is the Managing Director of the MDLBEAST Foundation and Strategy Director at MDLBEAST. She leads strategic initiatives to support and grow the music and entertainment industry in Saudi Arabia. Nada also heads the XP Music Futures conference, a key event for industry professionals. Her education at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where she earned an MA in Global Entertainment and Music Business, has been fundamental to her career. As a certified sound therapist, Nada integrates music therapy into her work, promoting its benefits through various initiatives.
Lee Boo Mitchell, GRAMMY Award-winning engineer, producer, composer, Owner, Royal Studios(USA)
Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, born on January 14, 1971, is a GRAMMY Award-winning producer, engineer, composer, and owner of Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Following in the footsteps of his father, Willie Mitchell, a renowned producer at Hi Records, Boo began his music career at 16, initially as a keyboard player and songwriter. He gained recognition for his work on Al Green's GRAMMY-winning album and formed the M-Team, Memphis' first rap group to release a full-length album and have a video on MTV. After managing his family's Rhythm and Blues Club, Boo took over Royal Studios, where he produced and engineered for a wide range of artists including Al Green, John Mayer, and Bruno Mars. His notable achievements include winning a GRAMMY for producing Cedric Burnside's "I Be Trying" and co-producing the hit "Uptown Funk," marking significant milestones for Memphis music history.
Panos A. Panay, President, Recording Academy (Santa Monica, USA)
Panos A. Panay serves as President for the Recording Academy®. In his role, Panay drives business growth across the entire organisation to further expand the service offerings for Academy members and the industry, focusing on identifying new partnerships, global expansion and leveraging new technologies. Prior to joining the Recording Academy, Panay served as the SVP for Global Strategy and Innovation at Berklee College of Music and is a fellow at MIT Connection Science. At Berklee, he led the development and execution of the college's overarching strategic plan; founded the Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship; oversaw its campuses in New York City, Valencia (Spain) and Abu Dhabi, as well as the Music + Health and India Exchange Institutes; and steered new partnerships, program development and the incorporation of new technologies. Panay has been recognized in Fast Company's Fast 50, Inc Magazine's Inc 500, Mass Hi-Tech All Stars, and Boston Globe's Game Changers.
Helen Glengarry, Music Industry Lead, City of Gold Coast (Gold Coast, Australia)
With over two decades of experience, I am currently fostering the music scene at City of Gold Coast through strategic music investment. My prior role as Director of Performances at WellingtonNZ honed my expertise in programming music, performing arts, and sport within theatres, arenas, stadiums and concert halls. My core competencies lie in producing memorable events that resonate with diverse audiences, while currently driving opportunities for musicians and industry within government.
Dr Christina Ballico, Lecturer (Department of Music), School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture, University of Aberdeen (Aberdeen, Great Britain)
Dr Christina Ballico is a lecturer in the Department of Music at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Her work examines the relationship between music and place, with a particular focus on the structure and function of place-based industries and scenes. She is the editor of Geographically Isolated and Peripheral Music Scenes: Global Insights and Perspectives (2021) and the co-editor of Music Cities: Evaluating a Global Policy Concept (2020).
Annika Park, Freelance Strategist, Brand/Culture/Innovation (Hong Kong, China)
Annika Park is a Senior Strategist specialising in regional brand strategy, cultural research, and innovation consulting for some of the most impactful consumer and public sector brands in the world. Born in Korea but raised in Singapore, she graduated from Dartmouth College with a BA in Government and Education Policy. A Third Culture Kid turned Third Culture Adult, she currently resides in Hong Kong.
Raoul Rugamba, Founder and CEO at Hobe Agency and Africa in Colors (Kigali, Rwanda)
Is the founder and CEO of Hobe Agency, a Rwandan-based company created in 2015 working in the creative communication and event management sector. Since 2018, Hobe Agency has been building the Africa in Colors project aiming at building an African creative industry space by creating more jobs, and more wealth for countries and players in the creative industry. Hobe Agency is also partnering with various creative and innovative companies across the globe in developing and producing African content, promoting investment in the African creative space, promoting Africa business collaborations, market exploration, and expansion.
Toy Selectah, Platinum Record Sales Producer/CEO, Worldwide Records
Toy Selectah is a multi-talented musician, producer, director, DJ, curator, cultural manager, and musical supervisor. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, he was a pioneer of hip-hop in Mexico and Latin America, known as Control Machete. He has worked with a wide range of artists, groups, and friends, including Los Angeles Azules, Santa Fe Klan, and more. In 2001, he produced and directed the track "Cumbia Sobre el Río" by Celso Piña, which marked the beginning of the sound known as NEW CUMBIA. Since 2001, he has directed SONES DEL MEXSIDE, his studio and music production company. Luna has also worked in cinema, collaborating with Lynn Fainchtein in films like Babel and PRESUNTO CULPABLE. He has also worked with Netflix Latin America on the Corridos Inspirados campaign and has directed the development of Worldwide Records, a record label that has established itself as a hotbed for new music and artists in Latin America.
As we eagerly await the announcement of the winners at the Music Cities Awards 2024, we are filled with excitement and anticipation. The projects and initiatives to be selected by our jury will serve as inspiration for cities around the world, showcasing the transformative power of music in creating vibrant, sustainable urban environments.The winners will not only receive well-deserved recognition for their efforts but will also gain valuable exposure and support for their ongoing work. By highlighting these exemplary projects, the Music Cities Awards aim to encourage more cities to embrace music as a catalyst for positive change, whether it be economic, social, environmental, or cultural.
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