Young bands and musicians participating in the Garage project will once again be evaluated this year by a professional jury composed of prominent figures from the Slovak and international music and cultural scene. The jurors’ diverse professional backgrounds offer a broad perspective on contemporary music — from jazz and experimental genres to music management and festival dramaturgy. The winners of this year’s edition will be announced in early May.
The jury will include:
Adam Szczepanek – a cultural animator, curator, and producer of music projects, director of the Lublin Jazz Festival, and president of the Fundacja Badania Możliwości. He is one of the key figures of the jazz scene in Lublin and has long been dedicated to supporting contemporary music at the intersection of jazz, improvisation, and experimentation. He has also been involved in the international project Jazz Bez and participates as an expert in discussions on music funding in Europe.
Anna Mašátová – a cultural manager, art historian, journalist, and PR specialist with extensive experience in the Czech and international music scene. She collaborates with Czech Radio Vltava, JAMU in Brno, and Uni magazine. She serves on several expert juries, including the Anděl Awards and Radio_Head Awards, and is actively involved in supporting and educating musicians.
Barbora Bodnárová – booking manager of the Pohoda Festival, where she is responsible for artist contracts and hospitality. She has been active in the cultural sector since 2007 and, during the pandemic, focused intensively on finding new forms of support for the music sector. She is known for her ability to handle complex situations and for her broad cross-sector knowledge.
Edgars Āboliņš – an experienced promoter and dramaturg from Latvia who has been involved in the music industry from a young age. He runs the Meteor Agency, has contributed to the programming of several clubs, and has led the music programme of the Laba Daba festival since 2010. He is currently part of the Liepāja 2027 – European Capital of Culture team.
Katja Tahlerová – project manager at LALA Slovak Music Export and responsible for partnerships at the SHARPE festival. She works as a booker for several Slovak bands and supports their development both locally and internationally. She lectures at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava and is considered one of the prominent figures of the younger generation in music management (Forbes 30 Under 30, The New Bosses).
Mária Janušová – curator and art historian, currently serving as the chief dramaturg of the Trenčín 2026 project. She has experience working in galleries and museums and has long been involved in the development of cultural programmes and dramaturgy.
Martin Turzík – founder of the independent label Deadred Records and an active musician (Autumnist). In addition to music, he is also engaged in product and industrial design, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to the evaluation process.
Together, they form a jury that reflects various segments of the music ecosystem — from creation and production to management and international collaboration. In 2026, the Garage project continues to offer young talents not only a platform for presentation but also valuable feedback from professionals who actively shape the contemporary music scene.
