Anders Jalkeus (Sweden)

Anders Jaléus, born in 1962, was introduced to folk music by his parents and started playing the violin and piano at the age of six. By the time he started studying music at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm he was able to play almost every instrument.There he also met some fellow students and together they formed the world famous Real Group. Since the beginning of their professional career they have sold more than 200,000 albums, performed more than 1,000 live shows and worked with great musicians like George Martin, Bobby McFerrin, Barbara Hendricks and Toots Thielemans. Jalkéus is a internationally sought-after singer, arranger and vocal coach and is also a dedicated chorus singer who loves Swedish "romance" music, especially when he gets to jump into the tenor
section.

Website of the Real Group

Matthias Becker (Germany)

Diploma as choir conductor (at Helmut Rilling), degree in musicology, PhD in “choir music in jazz”. Winner of the first prize at the national competition of voice (category jazz). Founder and manager of VoKAL ToTAL, the famous German vocal jazz quartet. Golden Diploma and 1st prize at the 4th international choir competition in Budapest, 1993. Two times ‘Jazz-CD of the Month’ awarded by the music journal “audio”. He is a concert and studio musician and his activities include: holding national and international courses in music for choirmasters, choirs and vocal ensembles, publishing choir arrangements and articles on voice and jazz choir.

Website of Mattias Becker 

Andrea Figallo (Italy), Pop, Jazz, Comedy

The bass singer and vocal percussionist of the Flying Pickets studied voice and drama in Bologna, conducted choirs and performed with various vocal ensembles in Italy and Switzerland. Before becoming the youngest member of the Flying Pickets he worked as a studio singer for international advertising campaigns and was part of the internationally renowned Italian a cappella sextet Jazz’n Jam. Today he is a sought-after vocal coach in seminars, workshops and master classes. He also appeared on Bobby McFerrin's new CD "VOCAbuLarieS"

Website of Andrea Figallo

Jörg-Martin Willnauer (Austria), Comedy

Comedian, composer, pianist, actor, author and photographer, who characterises himself as an entertainment industrialist.

Music degrees in piano and composition and music theory, workshops with Gisela May, Lauren Newton, Bobby Mc Ferrin, etc.

Several international prizes and awards ("Passauer Scharfrichterbeil", Theodor-Körner-Award, Luitpold-Stern-Award, Wilhelm-Busch-Award)

Website of Jörg-Martin Willnauer

Robert Persche (Austria), Comedy

Robert Persché was born in Melbourne, Australia and has been living in Graz since his early childhood. He is a cabaret artist, composer and writer of numerous musicals, works as a stage director in several Austrian opera houses and theatres, acts as a musical theatre performer, creates artful events and is artistic director of Musiktheater Graz. Since 1985 he has been active in his career as cabaret artist and musician solo as well as in ensembles.

Website of Kaktusblüten

Franz Jochum (Austria), classical vocal ensemble

Master Diploma with Honours in Conducting and Choral Conducting, Violin and sound engineering at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. Was awarded the Appreciation Award of the Federal Ministry of Vienna for his accomplishments in arts. Teacher at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz for Choir, Conducting, Choral Conducting and Vocal Ensemble. Internation-ally much asked for guest speaker and coach at seminars and symposia such as the European Acad-emy for Young Choral Conductors, Ars Choralis / Zagreb and federal and state academies in Ger-many.

Website of Franz Jochum