Team

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  Elia Meier

  Project Manager Communication

  Elia would rather place a few GIFs here than a text. Before animated images took over our lives however, they spent their days on the soccer field. Looking for a new challenge to tackle, they have since been exploring the depths of the cultural landscape. During their studies of social sciences and communication science at the University of Lucerne, they became a co-founder of “kopfkino”, “Queer Office” and “Frau*, Mann*, Mensch”, which are all being successfully continued. Their passion for project management and communication became evident as the program assistant at Neubad Lucerne, in the Sponsoring & Fundraising department at the Bernese Historical Museum and at the cultural mediation agency Miozzari & Co. GmbH.

   

  Since 2018 they have been in charge of the conception and realization of our communication. Sometimes, Elia won’t make as much as a peep for hours, while having a stare-down with the screen. The next thing you know, they are hatching creative ideas, darting through the office and painting wildly on flipcharts. During their time as an athlete, they also learned how important it is to pamper oneself once in a while and have clearly drilled this message into the team as well. They find their balance in writing, as a performer with Duo rau_, on a skateboard or bouldering.

   

  elia@helvetiarockt.ch

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  Kathy Bajaria

  Project Manager Female* Music Lab

  Kathy is the globetrotter amongst us. They have Indian roots, grew up in Sheffield, lived in Liverpool, Berlin and Amsterdam and sometimes secretly dreams of a life in New York or Buenos Aires. Kathy has lived in Lucerne for over 15 years and has been significant in shaping local cultural life by organizing concerts, parties and political events. They are co-founder* of Queer Office, responsible for the programming of the queer film festival PinkPanorama and involved in the Lucerne Integration Commission.

   

  Kathy has led the Female* Music Lab since the beginning of 2018. As a music enthusiast and DJ, as well as a trained cultural manager, tour guide for youth groups and football and tennis coach, they can make optimal use of their wide range of experience here with us. Kathy’s broad perspective and ability to see larger contexts are invaluable. It’s impressive how easily they connect people and projects with one another. Kathy’s extensive interest and knowledge of culture and society are a daily inspiration. With their calm English demeanor, they are able to cool down any heated discussion. Not even cold water will make them flinch. You might even catch a glimpse of them swimming in the Lake of Lucerne, the River Letten or the Aare in late autumn. So cool.

   

  kathy@helvetiarockt.ch

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  Letizia Carigiet

  Project Manager Female* Bandworkshops

  Feminism may have already begun in the cradle for Letizia. Hailing from the Canton of Grisons, she has been involved and dedicated in numerous projects for a better world. She stands up and speaks out against injustice, without being boisterous. She has done campaign work for “Flirt Don’t Hurt”, “16 Tage Gegen Gewalt an Frauen” and is co-initiator of the Queens* of Hip-Hop Festival. She studied German Literature, Edition Philology & Theatre Studies, led the youth mentoring project “womentoring” and has been involved in education and youth politics. She later worked as a research assistant for a project at the University of Bern.

   

  Since 2018 she has been rousing up Helvetiarockt as an all-rounder, combining her passion for music with the fight against inequality. In addition to her main project Female* Bandworkshops, she’s responsible for the new database project for women* in music. Fresh inputs and critical questions are Letizia’s specialty. Despite – or maybe precisely because of – her analytical and calm nature, she cracks people up with her dry humor. Should this ever fail to defuse a critical situation, she has one last ace up her sleeve. With her “Silly Dance” she’ll have everyone rolling on the floor laughing in no time.

   

  letizia@helvetiarockt.ch

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  Manuela Jutzi

  Co-Manager & Female* Bandworkshops

  At events and festivals, Manuela shines with her eloquence. She easily sparks up conversations, exchanges ideas, sensitizes and carries input back to the team. Whether in German, French or English, Manuela’s wittiness and determination is impressive. Apparently, she owes this gift of the gab to the French Swiss. After graduating from the «Ecole supérieure de Commerce in La Neuveville» with a commercial diploma, she lived and worked in Geneva for more than four years. She then returned to the Emmental. After several different positions as a commercial clerk, she took on leadership for the Female* Bandworkshops in 2014.

   

  She is still committed to maintaining the dynamics of the project and developing it further. No matter how concentrated and focused she is working, she always makes time for others. She warms bellies with tea and has an open ear for any troubled minds. Not even our accounting department can tame this bundle of energy! While most of us avoid the nerve-wrecking task of crunching numbers, for Manuela it seems to be a piece of cake. With her playful attitude she accomplishes this ginormous job in a flash. When she lets off steam she’ll be standing in front of the Ziegler holding a cup of coffee and a cigarette.

   

  manuela@helvetiarockt.ch

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  Muriel Rhyner

  Project Manager Courses in Producing & Songwriting

  Over 600 concerts played in Switzerland and abroad. 5 Albums. 12 years of Delilahs. Muriel is a musician, songwriter, booker and project manager. She wrote her first own songs at the age of twelve, soon after she grabbed a bass guitar and established herself as an autodidact in the industry.

   

  She has been involved with Helvetiarockt since day one, developed the Female* Songwriting Camp in 2015 and has been cooking up additional offers for professional musicians* since 2018. She makes the most out of her small workload and knows how to use her resources. At work she has been dubbed with the honourable nickname “Brainchild Slingshot” and is not afraid to take on any administrative tasks. As coach of the Female* Bandworkshop in Bern and director of the Female* Songwriting Camp in Zug, she genuinely sparks the interest in music in women*. Her passion is contagious. She enriches our team on all levels and brings important perspectives to the table. As an experienced musician and teacher she is interested in offering high-quality courses and knows exactly what it feels like to stir up the industry as a woman*. P.S.: If you are looking for project ideas, contact her!

   

  muriel@helvetiarockt.ch

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  Regula Frei

  Co-Manager

  The number of sleepless nights Regula has had during her time with Helvetiarockt is one of the most closely kept secrets of the Swiss music industry. She has been with Helvetiarockt since day one in 2012 and managed everything solo in the beginning. In the meantime, she has the support of a powerful team, and together they march towards the common goal of equality. Whenever she takes a moment to reminisce how much this project has grown, her eyes may water up. Regula is seldomly calm and reserved. From her sharp and astute gaze you can tell that her vision is very clear. Being pragmatic and down to earth, she only takes on projects that are realistic, yet meaningful. Focusing on the outcome and success she never stops questioning how things can be more inclusive.

   

  As a teacher and adult educator, she brings high didactic standards to the table, but she has also rolled up her sleeves working for the SBB and PROGR, adding to her diverse skills and wide range of experience. Although Regula may be solid as a rock on one hand, her soft spot is her big open heart where everyone is welcome. So you wonder where to find her after work? In the limelight rocking the stage as a double bass player.

   

  regula@helvetiarockt.ch

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  Yvonne Meyer

  Project Manager Helvetiarockt On Tour

  You’re lucky if you should ever meet Yvonne in one of our offices. She’s usually on the road, working on her projects between Basel, Lausanne or Lucerne. With a degree in cultural management, her work mainly consists of developing and implementing target-oriented formats with various people and organisations at festivals. In spite of the manifold tasks and challenges that these collaborations bring, she always keeps a cool head and never loses sight of the nitty-gritty. However, as soon as one event is over and done with she is already on to the next task-such as finalising the programmation for the next year. She is driven by this tempo and it gives her the necessary kick.

   

  After 10 years as co-managing director of bee-flat in the PROGR in Bern, this is probably just lightweight anyway. Apart from Helvetiarockt, she is also involved in Musikvermittlung Schweiz and is a board council member of the Schweizer Musikrat. Through her passion for music, Yvonne is able to keep her finger on the pulse of the industry and is always on the ball. With her enthusiasm she consistently lifts the spirit of the whole team and makes sure that we don’t forget why we do what we do.

   

  yvonne@helvetiarockt.ch