WOMEX NEWSLETTER #11/2009

WOMEX 09 CONFERENCE UPDATE

THANK YOU, SEMBA

WELCOME KAY

ALEX WALTER: PROMOTION

Dear WOMEXicans,

Change is the only constant in our WOMEX lives...

WOMEX 09 CONFERENCE UPDATE

Thanks to all of you for your WOMEX 09 Conference and Mentoring Session proposals. We received a record-breaking 66 applications so we will spend the next month scrutinising each and every one and we will begin getting back to you by the end of May.

And here is another important update on the WOMEX Conference:

THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK: CHRISTINE SEMBA

Please join us in wishing Christine Semba, WOMEX Director of Content & Programmes, the fondest of farewells. After 9 innovative, productive years, during which she helped shape and steer WOMEX, she has decided to move on to new challenges.

Christine worked under two WOMEX Directors and survived to tell the tale. Christoph Borkowsky had this to say: "Christine was my dreamteam-partner when I directed WOMEX from '99-'06. Her commitment to programme and content was a top source to make WOMEX what it is today."

The current Director Gerald Seligman added that "Christine’s dedication to WOMEX, her longevity and the commitment to the community of artists and professionals it serves is a key reason for our growth, reputation and success. I know that many artists shared the impression we had here in Berlin, which was that Christine was their advocate who worked tirelessly to support their efforts, their music, their careers. The mark she left was not only here in the office but in the world music community at large."

Alex Walter, WOMEX’s new Music Programming Manager, was hired and trained by Christine starting back in 2004. "It was a real pleasure to work together with Christine during all these years," Alex said. "I will miss her professionalism, the countless advice she gave, her support and of course her unique personality and humour. It was teamwork in its most original sense - and yes, big fun."

Last words are always best left to Ben Mandelson, the founding WOMEX Director. "When people said 'Semba' to me nine years ago, my mind immediately turned to the obvious 'Semba: Angolan Dance Style'; 'SEMBA: South-East Michigan Beekepers Association'; and 'Semba: the leading japanese research scientist'. True, we are all familiar with those kinds of Sembas, almost on a daily basis. How fantastic it was to add to the world bank of Sembas when Christine arrived in the WOMEX courtyard. During her WOMEX time her sembatastic and characterful skills in language, organisation, artist-juggling, event- cherishing, conference-shepherding and the general push & pull of womexercise have made her much more than a dance, a beekeeper or a research scientist. Semba Number One - we salute you!"

We all wish Christine the same sort of success in her next endeavours that she has had at WOMEX. Phase I of her contribution to world music has ended. Phase II begins.

KAY VERDON: NEW WOMEX DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES & SPECIAL PROJECTS

Please join us welcoming Kay Verdon to a new position here at WOMEX, that of Director of Conferences & Special Projects. Born in Brussels to British and Danish parents, Kay grew up ping-ponging between these 3 countries. After short stints in film and urban regeneration projects she joined the European Music Office where she developed EU-funded cooperation projects with its members (music export/ information offices) to facilitate the mobility of European artists. Spurred by her passion for African dance and travels within the continent, Kay has also followed closely EU development policies and advised structures on funding opportunities within the ACP region.

For WOMEX Kay will be helping us transform the WOMEX Conference to meet the needs of a fast-changing environment. She will also help us develop new projects and partnerships throughout the world.

Contact: kay.verdon@womex.com

ALEX WALTER, MUSIC PROGRAMMING MANAGER

Alex first joined WOMEX in 2004 as an intern. His work was so valuable, Christine convinced him to stay on board seasonally to help us with first conferencing, then, increasingly, the showcase organisation and coordination. With Christine’s departure, we are promoting Alex to be the exclusive head of all music programming coordination.

Born in Ulm he moved to Stuttgart and in 2001 to Berlin. He studied social sciences at Berlin's Humboldt University with a one-year stopover at Universidad Complutense de Madrid and finished his thesis about migration in connection with the German labour market. Back in his school days he was involved in organising concerts and now and then works as a private drum teacher.

Contact: alexander.walter@womex.com

Find bios & photos of the whole WOMEX team at www.womex.com/realwomex/team


Stay tuned and keep in touch -
Best regards from your WOMEX team in Berlin


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WOMEX 09 Copenhagen / 28 October - 1 November
Do Business, Catch Up, and Get Ahead!


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