Meet the Fourth Generation of New Faces

We are excited to unveil the latest lineup of talent for the fourth year of the New Faces initiative. This year’s cohort brings together ten incredible professionals under 30 from across Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia. Out of more than 140 applications – a new record – these individuals were selected for their local impact, their drive, and their potential to shape the future of the music industry.

The number of applications has grown steadily each year, reflecting a strong and sustained interest among young people to work in the music sector, as well as an increasing recognition of the importance of professional networking and international collaboration for long-term career development.

Who is in the class of 2026?

Our new cohort represents the next wave of journalists, bookers, managers, and festival organizers who are already active in their local communities. Beyond attending concerts, they will also participate in specialised workshops and networking sessions designed to turn regional connections into global opportunities.

At its heart, New Faces is about the power of the network. By facilitating peer-to-peer exchange and providing direct access to major conference environments, the programme builds the long-term connections necessary for a sustainable career in music.

“The continued growth in applications confirms the relevance of New Faces and its role in supporting the next generation of industry leaders,” say the project partners.

  • MENT Ljubljana (SI)
  • Kontakt (RS)
  • SHIP (HR)
  • PIN Music Conference (MK)
  • SoAlive Music Conference & Festival (BG)

The participants will receive PRO passes to at least four of these events, granting them full access to showcase concerts, conference tracks, and delegate databases to foster meaningful international exchange.

Keep an eye out for these faces at our upcoming events – they are the ones to watch!

Veronika Černe (Radio Študent, SI)
Veronika Černe is a sound engineer, event organiser, and music journalist. She is active in the alternative electronic music scene as a DJ and producer under the alias Raketa. Her entry point to the business part of music industry was Radio Študent, where she started as a sound engineer and music journalist and took on more of organisational roles too. Veronika is the current head of the Tresk Festival (Radio Študent), the host of the Vibe Check show, and the creator of Ghetto Babes event series (Gala Hala), which focuses on ghetto-tech music, highlights FLINTA artists, and fosters safer club spaces. As an in-house sound engineer, she works at venues Channel Zero, Gala Hala, Gromka, and Klub K4 / Zorica. Her long-term goal is to combine her work in the music industry with her social education background through workshops on DJing, sound engineering, and radio

Jan Robek (Kapa Records, KREH, SI)
Jan is a musician, booker, concert organiser, promoter, and label manager. In 2017, he began organising events for the local skate collective LYC, including concerts and DJ showcases. In 2022, he took over the underground record label Kapa Records, overseeing nine album releases to date and organising two Balkan tours for the bands auto and Čao Portorož. He later expanded into booking, organisation, and promotion, both for the Gala Hala club and his own platform KREH. Through KREH, he collaborates with venues at Metelkova City, local artists, organisers, and designers. In 2024 and 2025, he worked as a stage manager at MENT Ljubljana. He also plays in the band mal pre mal. 

Dona Ilijevska (Gola Planina, Mrtov Konj, MK)
Dona is a young creative who works as a graphic designer, booker, and manager for the Naked Mountain (Gola Planina) collective and its record label Dead Horse (Mrtov Konj). She focuses on bringing the underground to the forefront while supporting the growth of Macedonia’s emerging independent music and arts scene. She currently works as a booker and manager with local bands such as Mallard and Kaliko, and has helped shape events across Macedonia as well as at venues, events, and festivals throughout the Balkans.

Luka Toshev (Dina Jashari, Studio Ilinden 3, MK)
Luka is a musician, sound enthusiast, and creative professional with a strong affinity for theatre, live performance, and behind-the-scenes work. He works across booking, tour management, and PR. He is currently the tour manager, booker, and PR for Dina Jashari, and regularly tours with her. He also has experience in event management through work at MKC Skopje, CinEdays Festival, and as a concert organiser in Skopje, and is also active as a theatre composer and sound designer. Luka is the founder of Studio Ilinden 3 and Grainy Scrapbook, and a member of the Dope Kukjata collective.

Ana Konstantinović (Liveurope, RS)
Ana is a cultural manager and producer working across music, festivals, and contemporary culture. She has been involved in major projects and organisations, including Liveurope, Arsenal Fest, Sarajevo Film Festival, Olympiad Paris, and Long Play Concert Agency, collaborating with international artists such as Manu Chao, Steve Vai, Nouvelle Vague, and Circa Waves. In addition to festival production and artist coordination, she develops music showcases, side programs, and creative concepts, and hosts a radio show dedicated to alternative scenes and subcultures. When she’s not working on her next project, she can be found exploring hidden spaces or watching old films. 

Boško Strugar (KST, RS)
Boško is a music and culture programmer, producer, and event organiser with a strong focus on concert production and club programming. As a member of the management team and programme editor at Klub studenata tehnike (KST), he actively shapes seasonal concepts, curates music and cultural events, and leads multidisciplinary teams across production, technical, design, PR, and multimedia departments. He has been involved in the organisation of numerous club nights and concerts featuring local, regional, and international artists. His creative practice also includes DJing and music selection.

David Mandić (Radio Tvornica, HR)
David holds an MA in communication studies, media, and journalism and has experience in both print and digital media, including Jutarnji list, 24sata, and Glazba.hr. He is an editor and radio host at Radio Tvornica, shaping the station’s programming and musical identity through the show Večernji pogon. He is also the creator and host of Scenica!, a platform dedicated to promoting local and regional independent music. Scenica! is an innovative multimedia concept that connects radio broadcasting with live performances at Tvornica kulture. David is a member of the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) and the Rock&Off award jury, as well as an alumnus of the Rock&Off School of Music Journalism.

Matea Božić (yem, HR)
Matea is a communications and media professional with a focus on music, live events, and contemporary culture. With a background in photography, video production, and journalism, she honed her storytelling skills producing and writing TV segments for the Croatian National Television (HRT4), covering music, visual arts, theatre, and the broader creative scene. She currently works in marketing and PR at yem., managing campaigns for artists, labels, and major festivals including Zagreb Beer Fest, Pine Fest, and Beat na moru. Matea collaborates closely with artists and creative teams, connecting visual expression, digital platforms, and strategy to build authentic narratives around music projects.

Zhelyazko Ganchev (Zvuk I Kartina / BubbleGum Records, Samodiva Society, BG)
Zhelyazko is an independent music professional based in Sofia, working across artist development and live event operations. He co-leads Zvuk I Kartina / BubbleGum Records, an independent music label, and works with Samodiva Society, an NGO supporting independent artists, overseeing artist development, project coordination, release and campaign planning, and day-to-day operations. He has extensive experience in high-pressure festival environments, including venue and stage management, backstage coordination, task distribution, and on-the-spot troubleshooting to keep teams aligned and programs running smoothly.

Georgi Kazasov (Smiles Music, Caravan Party, BG)
Georgi is an event coordinator and music professional working with the family-owned live events company Smiles Music. For over a decade, he has played a key role in developing Caravan Party Festival in Arapya, hosting leading Bulgarian artists while supporting emerging talent. He has also produced a one-summer festival with artists Incognito and AKAGA and managed two national tours for Orlin Goranov. Trained in opera, he holds a music business & management degree from BIMM London. His aim is to expand Smiles Music and position Bulgaria as a world-class destination for international live music.