August 28 to 30, 2025
2025 JAZZ FESTIVAL
Inspired by
IMPORTANT INFO
On August 29 & August 30, the concert will take place at 8:30 PM (as opposed to 8:30) at the Rector’s Palace (as opposed to Grand Hotel Garden), followed by a Jam Session at Rector’s Palace at 10:30 PM.
The boat transfer from Lopud on August 29 will depart from the main port at 12:15 AM (instead of the location in front of Lafodia Hotel).
The third edition of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival will once again bring Lopud island alive with the energy and freedom that jazz inspires.
We’re honored to welcome Master in Residence, Terri Lyne Carrington – an NEA Jazz Master, Doris Duke Artist, and four-time Grammy award-winning drummer, composer, producer, and educator – as well as our 2025 concert program of ground-breaking artists, featuring Ben Wendel Quartet, Sofia Rei and Michael Mayo.
Program details
August 28
Sofia Rei feat. JC Maillard and Tupac Mantilla
Grammy nominated vocalist, composer and charango player Sofia Rei will take us deep into the mountains of the Elqui Valley in Chile to perform music from her award winning album
UMBRAL featuring JC Maillard and Tupac Mantilla.
August 29
Ben Wendel Group feat. Shai Maestro, Joe Sanders, Antonio Sánchez
Ben will play originals and beloved standards from his discography, including music from his Grammy-nominated album “All One” and most recent release “Understory: Live From The
Village Vanguard”.
August 30
Michael Mayo
Michael Mayo takes us on a vocally rhythmic and harmonic journey through his R&B and jazz
infused Mack Avenue Records releases, “Fly” and “Bones”, featuring Andrew Freedman, Nick
Campbell and Robin Baytas.
Become a 2025 Ponta Lopud Jazz Fellow
Auditions open: June 2, 2025
Deadline to Apply: July 1, 2025
Each year the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival invites a select number of aspiring professional musicians from all over the world to participate in a 4 day life-changing musical and human experience. Only two to three musicians per instrument are selected to attend, which makes this experience extremely exclusive and intimate. Musicians of the highest level are selected to attend immersive daily masterclasses, evening concerts, participate in nightly jam sessions and take part in unique festival activities throughout the day together with the visiting Master and Mentors in Residence. It is through music, discussions and life experiences that we can dig deeper into our artistic selves and bring out elements of our creativity that we never knew existed.
An online audition process is available to any aspiring professional musician who meets the required criteria.
No cost to apply
- All selected Fellows will be required to pay a symbolic fee of €200 + VAT
- All travel to and from Dubrovnik is at the sole expense of the Fellow
- If selected, lodging for 4 nights (shared rooms), breakfast + lunch/dinner, excursions/ events, masterclasses and concerts will all be provided at the expense of Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival
Eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must be professional musicians with music being their main source of income (no hobbyists or undergraduate students)
- Applicants must have a high level of musical training
- Applicants must appear on AT LEAST ONE professionally published recording or album (can be work for hire or a solo project)
An online audition process is available to any young professional musician who meets the required criteria.
The application cycle is now closed.
Masters & Mentors
Terri Lyne Carrington
Master
Four-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master, Terri Lyne Carrington is a renowned drummer, composer, and educator. She is the founder and artistic director of the Berklee Institute
Antonio Sánchez
Mentor
Four-time Grammy winner Antonio Sánchez is one of the most sought-after drummers in international jazz. He is also a recipient of three Echo Awards, a Critics Choice Award, and Go
Ben Wendel
Mentor
Grammy-nominated saxophonist and composer Ben Wendel is a founding member of the acclaimed group Kneebody. Known for his genre-blurring collaborations, he has worked with artists r
JC Maillard
Mentor
Jean-Christophe “JC” Maillard is a French composer, guitarist, and producer from Guadeloupe, known for his boundary-pushing work in world jazz and electronic music. He has coll
Joe Sanders
Mentor
American bassist and composer Joe Sanders is known for his versatility across jazz, classical, R&B, and Afro-Latin styles. A longtime collaborator with artists like Joshua Redm
Michael Mayo
Mentor
Michael Mayo is a vocalist, composer, and graduate of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, where he studied with legends like Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock—becoming only the
Shai Maestro
Mentor
Pianist and composer Shai Maestro is one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz. Since launching his trio in 2011, he has built an international reputation for his flu
Sofia Rei
Mentor
Two-time Grammy-nominated vocalist, songwriter, and producer Sofia Rei blends folkloric traditions from her native Buenos Aires with jazz, electronic, and experimental music. Prais
Tupac Mantilla
Mentor
Grammy-nominated percussionist Tupac Mantilla is known for his dynamic artistry and versatility across genres. He has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Cen
Andrew Freedman
Mentor
Andrew Freedman is a pianist, improviser, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Los Angeles, California. He has toured and collaborated with artists across a wide range of discip
Robin Baytas
Mentor
Drummer and composer Robin Baytas is known for his stylistic range, and dynamic presence across jazz, indie rock, and electronic music. A graduate of the New England Conservatory a
Nick Campbell
Mentor
Los Angeles-based electric bassist Nick Campbell is known for his bold, genre-blurring style and inventive harmonic language. A sought-after sideman, he has performed with Pomplamo
Terri Lyne Carrington
Master
Four-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master, Terri Lyne Carrington is a renowned drummer, composer, and educator. She is the founder and artistic director of the Berklee Institute
Antonio Sánchez
Mentor
Four-time Grammy winner Antonio Sánchez is one of the most sought-after drummers in international jazz. He is also a recipient of three Echo Awards, a Critics Choice Award, and Go
Ben Wendel
Mentor
Grammy-nominated saxophonist and composer Ben Wendel is a founding member of the acclaimed group Kneebody. Known for his genre-blurring collaborations, he has worked with artists r
JC Maillard
Mentor
Jean-Christophe “JC” Maillard is a French composer, guitarist, and producer from Guadeloupe, known for his boundary-pushing work in world jazz and electronic music. He has coll
Joe Sanders
Mentor
American bassist and composer Joe Sanders is known for his versatility across jazz, classical, R&B, and Afro-Latin styles. A longtime collaborator with artists like Joshua Redm
Michael Mayo
Mentor
Michael Mayo is a vocalist, composer, and graduate of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, where he studied with legends like Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock—becoming only the
Shai Maestro
Mentor
Pianist and composer Shai Maestro is one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz. Since launching his trio in 2011, he has built an international reputation for his flu
Sofia Rei
Mentor
Two-time Grammy-nominated vocalist, songwriter, and producer Sofia Rei blends folkloric traditions from her native Buenos Aires with jazz, electronic, and experimental music. Prais
Tupac Mantilla
Mentor
Grammy-nominated percussionist Tupac Mantilla is known for his dynamic artistry and versatility across genres. He has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Cen
Andrew Freedman
Mentor
Andrew Freedman is a pianist, improviser, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Los Angeles, California. He has toured and collaborated with artists across a wide range of discip
Robin Baytas
Mentor
Drummer and composer Robin Baytas is known for his stylistic range, and dynamic presence across jazz, indie rock, and electronic music. A graduate of the New England Conservatory a
Nick Campbell
Mentor
Los Angeles-based electric bassist Nick Campbell is known for his bold, genre-blurring style and inventive harmonic language. A sought-after sideman, he has performed with Pomplamo
Fellows
Austin Bassarath
Saxophone (alto)
Austin Bassarath is a Canadian saxophonist known for his versatility across jazz, funk, pop, and contemporary styles. Now based in Barcelona, he has performed internationally in Ca
Arthur Buckner
Drums
Arthur “L.A.” Buckner is a drummer, teaching artist, and producer from Minneapolis, holding a master’s degree in Percussion Performance from McNally Smith College of
Luka Čapeta
Guitar
Luka Čapeta, known artistically as Temporal Body, is a musician and artist from Zagreb. Starting with guitar as his main instrument in his early teens, Luka explored and practiced
Petar Ćulibrk
Piano
Petar Ćulibrk, known as the “World’s Okayest Pianist,” was born in Dubrovnik in 1986. He graduated in music theory and classical composition from the Zagreb Academy of Music
Milica Dobrić
Voice
Milica Dobrić is a Serbian jazz vocalist and musician with over a decade of experience in performance and music education. Holding a Master’s degree in Jazz Singing from the Fac
Max Esquivel
Bass (electric)
Max Esquivel, born in 1986 in San José, Costa Rica, grew up surrounded by his mother’s flamenco rehearsals and his father’s prog-rock records. After studying in Los Angeles an
Benjamín Ricardo García Rojas
Bass (upright & electric)
Benjamín García, a bassist and composer from Mexico City now performing under the artistic name Ben Garcia, known for his versatility on both double and electric bass. He has per
Manuel Luque
Bass (upright)
Eddie Mejía
Guitar
Eddie Mejía, a Mexican jazz guitarist and composer from San Luis Potosí, moved to Barcelona at 19 to study at the Conservatori del Liceu with Bill McHenry, Jordi Bonell, and Jaum
Anggie Obin
Flute
Panamanian flutist Anggie Obin began her studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Panama and the Danilo Pérez Foundation before earning a full scholarship to Berklee Colle
Jason Patrick Owens
Saxophone
Jason Patrick Owens is an American jazz saxophonist and composer from Reno, Nevada, now based in Barcelona. A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno in jazz and improvisational
Vincenzo Luigi Pellegrino
Piano
Vincenzo Luigi Pellegrino is a Barcelona-based pianist, composer, and educator, currently pursuing a master’s in Jazz Piano at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya. A 2023
Ana Pilat
Voice
Ana Pilat is a vocalist, lyricist, and vocal pedagogue from Istria, Croatia, whose career spans modern and world music collaborations. She graduated with honors in Jazz Singing fro
Fanni Pósa
French horn
Fanni Pósa, a Serbian-born Hungarian musician, is one of the few jazz French horn players in Europe. A graduate of the University of Music and Dance in Cologne and currently pursu
Austin Bassarath
Saxophone (alto)
Austin Bassarath is a Canadian saxophonist known for his versatility across jazz, funk, pop, and contemporary styles. Now based in Barcelona, he has performed internationally in Ca
Arthur Buckner
Drums
Arthur “L.A.” Buckner is a drummer, teaching artist, and producer from Minneapolis, holding a master’s degree in Percussion Performance from McNally Smith College of
Luka Čapeta
Guitar
Luka Čapeta, known artistically as Temporal Body, is a musician and artist from Zagreb. Starting with guitar as his main instrument in his early teens, Luka explored and practiced
Petar Ćulibrk
Piano
Petar Ćulibrk, known as the “World’s Okayest Pianist,” was born in Dubrovnik in 1986. He graduated in music theory and classical composition from the Zagreb Academy of Music
Milica Dobrić
Voice
Milica Dobrić is a Serbian jazz vocalist and musician with over a decade of experience in performance and music education. Holding a Master’s degree in Jazz Singing from the Fac
Max Esquivel
Bass (electric)
Max Esquivel, born in 1986 in San José, Costa Rica, grew up surrounded by his mother’s flamenco rehearsals and his father’s prog-rock records. After studying in Los Angeles an
Benjamín Ricardo García Rojas
Bass (upright & electric)
Benjamín García, a bassist and composer from Mexico City now performing under the artistic name Ben Garcia, known for his versatility on both double and electric bass. He has per
Manuel Luque
Bass (upright)
Eddie Mejía
Guitar
Eddie Mejía, a Mexican jazz guitarist and composer from San Luis Potosí, moved to Barcelona at 19 to study at the Conservatori del Liceu with Bill McHenry, Jordi Bonell, and Jaum
Anggie Obin
Flute
Panamanian flutist Anggie Obin began her studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Panama and the Danilo Pérez Foundation before earning a full scholarship to Berklee Colle
Jason Patrick Owens
Saxophone
Jason Patrick Owens is an American jazz saxophonist and composer from Reno, Nevada, now based in Barcelona. A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno in jazz and improvisational
Vincenzo Luigi Pellegrino
Piano
Vincenzo Luigi Pellegrino is a Barcelona-based pianist, composer, and educator, currently pursuing a master’s in Jazz Piano at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya. A 2023
Ana Pilat
Voice
Ana Pilat is a vocalist, lyricist, and vocal pedagogue from Istria, Croatia, whose career spans modern and world music collaborations. She graduated with honors in Jazz Singing fro
Fanni Pósa
French horn
Fanni Pósa, a Serbian-born Hungarian musician, is one of the few jazz French horn players in Europe. A graduate of the University of Music and Dance in Cologne and currently pursu
