Our People
The Founders
The EAYMC was founded in 2012 by JM International, the Arab Academy of Music and Epilogi.
Dr. Kifah Fakhouri
EAYMC President, Secretary-General of the Arab Academy of Music of the League of Arab States
Dr. Kifah Fakhouri (Lebanese, Jordanian) is a distinguished music educator, composer, conductor and international cultural leader. He serves as Secretary-General of the Arab Academy of Music, founded by and affiliated with the League of Arab States, and previously directed the Jordanian National Music Conservatory for 24 years. A former President of the International Music Council (2001–2005), he holds a PhD in Music Education and has contributed extensively to research, teaching and international cooperation in music. As President of EAYMC, he brings extensive experience in music education, cultural diplomacy and Euro-Arab cooperation.
Blasko Smilevski
JM International
Macedonia / Belgium
Blasko Smilevski (Belgian, North Macedonian) is an international youth and cultural cooperation professional and Executive Director of Jeunesses Musicales International since 2008. Previously President of JM Europe and JMI, he has extensive experience in youth policy, non-formal education, international mobility and organisational development. His professional background includes work with the World Bank on youth development and participation in international cultural and youth networks. He contributes to EAYMC's strategic development and its connections with the global Jeunesses Musicales network.
Livia Prodromou
Epilogi
Cyprus
Livia Prodromou (Hungarian, Cypriot) is an experienced administrator and long-standing member of the Cypriot cultural community. Of Hungarian origin and based in Cyprus for several decades, she brings professional experience in business administration, office management and organisational support. Through her involvement with Cultural Movement Epilogi and EAYMC, she contributes to organisational continuity, administrative coordination and the practical management of international cultural cooperation. Her experience supports the Centre's operational capacity and multicultural governance.
Dr. Husham Sharaf
Arab Academy of Music
Jordan / Iraq
Dr. Husham Sharaf (Iraqi, Jordanian) is a music educator, clarinettist and academic with a background in mathematics and music education. He has served as a clarinet professor at the National Music Conservatory in Amman and is involved in the management of the Arab Academy of Music, affiliated with the League of Arab States. Bringing both Iraqi and Jordanian connections, he contributes expertise in instrumental music education, artistic cooperation and institutional relations across the Arab region. His participation strengthens EAYMC's educational and Euro-Arab cooperation dimensions.
Our Board
Dubravka Kusan
JM Croatia
Croatia
Dubravka Dujmović Kušan (Croatian) is an experienced cultural manager and international youth music cooperation professional associated with Jeunesses Musicales Croatia (Hrvatska Glazbena Mladez). Graduate of the Political Sciences Faculty of the University of Zagreb, she has contributed for over 30 years to international initiatives connecting young musicians across Europe and the Mediterranean, including the World Youth Jazz Orchestra, Euro-Mediterranean Youth Music Expo in Limassol and music exchange projects. She also serves within the governance structures of Jeunesses Musicales International. Her experience supports EAYMC's international networking, music mobility and intercultural cooperation.
Tatiana Tsietti
Epilogi
Cyprus
Tatiana Tsietti is a Cypriot civil engineer, cultural activist and President of Cultural Movement Epilogi in Limassol. Epilogi is the largest cultural NGO in Limassol with hundreds of members engaged in musical and other cultural activities. Epilogi is member of JM International and European Choral Association – Europa Cantat. Through her long-standing voluntary engagement, she has contributed to community cultural activities, international cooperation and initiatives promoting social inclusion and intercultural dialogue. Her experience is closely connected with Epilogi's participation in Limassol's intercultural initiatives and community networks. Within EAYMC, she brings experience in civil society governance, voluntary participation and community engagement, particularly relevant to inclusion and youth participation. Epilogi also offers to the EAYMC the necessary infrastructure, including the offices and a classroom of 70sqm adapted for youth, educational and music activities.
Our Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Victoria Bogdanovic
Executive Coordinator (paid staff member)
Victoria Bogdanovic, 23, is a young cultural professional of Serbian and Cypriot origin with a background in International and European Studies, youth engagement and music. She is graduate from the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki and also studied European Law at Maastricht University. She has been involved in EAYMC and Cultural Movement Epilogi activities and in international youth activities within the Jeunesses Musicales network. Currently she is the only paid staff at EAYMC, initially appointed and as Executive Assistant and upgraded to the Executive Coordinator of the Center. She has received training at the Council of Europe’s European Youth Centre Budapest (2019), strengthening her competencies in international youth work and non-formal education. She speaks Greek, Serbian and English and has an advanced-level musical background in piano certified by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (UK).
Hanin Al Mahmoud
Intercultural Coordinator (volunteer)
Hanin Al Mahmoud, 21, is a young cultural professional of Syrian origin and a Business Administration student at Cyprus College. She has experience in administrative and secretarial support and currently works part-time with the Coordinating Council of Limassol Cultural Associations (Syntonistiko Symvoulio Politistikon Foreon Lemesou), a network of cultural organisations that manages the House of Arts and Letters in Limassol and supports cultural and artistic activity in the city. A native Arabic speaker with very good Greek and good English, she brings multilingual communication, organisational skills and direct intercultural experience to the EAYMC team, strengthening its capacity to engage with Arabic-speaking, migrant and intercultural communities in Cyprus and Europe.
Ioanna Charalambous
Youth empowerment and international coordinator (volunteer)
Ioanna Charalambous is a musician, music educator and ethnomusicologist with an MA in Ethnomusicology from University College Cork and a BA in Music and Design from Lancaster University. Since 2019, she has served as Project Coordinator and Artistic Leader of Ethno Cyprus, contributing to the management and implementation of the annual programme, coordination of production teams and international participants, and organisation and artistic curation of rehearsals, performances and related activities. Her experience combines music education, artistic practice and facilitation in intercultural and youth-oriented music activities. She is also actively devoted to youth work through her service with the Cyprus Scouts Association, complementing her artistic and educational experience with direct engagement in organised youth activities and non-formal learning.
Christina Karapataki
Social music education coordinator (volunteer)
Christina Karapataki is a cellist, music educator and experienced teacher with a strong background in music-based learning and intercultural education. She studied cello at the National Music Academy of Ukraine and is a permanent cello teacher at the Papadakeio Municipal Music School of Limassol. She is actively involved as an educator in the Municipality of Limassol’s “Multicoloured Music” programme, providing music-learning opportunities for children from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. Within EAYMC, she will contributes particularly to the educational component, connecting music education with non-formal learning, inclusion and intercultural youth work. Fluent in Greek, English, Ukrainian and Russian, she also brings significant multilingual and intercultural capacity to the team.
Antonis Zosimidis
IT & Communications Manager (volunteer)
Antonis Zosimidis, 23, is a graduate of International and European Studies at the University of Macedonia, with a background in information technology, software and hardware systems, econometrics and digital innovation. At EAYMC, he oversees IT infrastructure, website development and digital communications, helping strengthen the Centre’s online presence and international outreach. Combining his technical expertise with an understanding of European and international cooperation, Antonis supports EAYMC’s mission to connect young people, musicians and cultural organisations across Europe and the Arab world. He is particularly interested in using technology to overcome geographical barriers, facilitate intercultural exchange and create new opportunities for collaboration within the Euro-Arab youth music community.