Founder and art directors

DMITRY KISELEV

Russian journalist, founder of the Koktebel Jazz Party festival

The Koktebel Jazz Party was first held in Koktebel in 2003 as a private initiative of Dmitry Kiselev and his Ukrainian friends – Lilya Mlinarich, Vladimir Solyanik and Kirill Vyshinsky. Named after a small village in Crimea, the festival is now recognized as a leading global jazz venue, the biggest cultural event on the peninsula, and a remarkable combination of music and natural energy.

MIKHAIL IKONNIKOV

A jazz expert, radio host and artistic director of the Koktebel Jazz Party

Mikhail Ikonnikov, a co-founder of Radio 101 established in the early 1990s, was awarded the Popov Prize for his program Jazz. Private collection in 1998.  In the 21st century, Ikonnikov was for many years the music director of the Mayak national radio station and also hosted jazz programs at other VGTRK radio stations (Vesti FM and Radio Culture). He also was program director of the radio station Radio JAZZ 89.1 FM.

SERGEY GOLOVNYA

A virtuoso jazz saxophonist with a huge expertise, composer and artistic director of the Koktebel Jazz Party international festival

Golovnya is the founder of the SG BIG BAND orchestra and the Electro Machine band. He has performed together with the world’s leading jazzmen, including Johnny Griffin, Eddie Henderson, James Spaulding and Lew Soloff, as well as with many Russian musicians, such as Valery Ponomaryov, German Lukyanov and Mikhail Okun. He also worked in the orchestras of Oleg Lundstrem and Igor Butman.