The International Music Council (IMC), a global network of musical institutions and organizations and an advocate for musical accessibility, has elected Jesse Boere as its new President. The appointment was made by IMC members at the organization’s 41st General Assembly.
Born in the Netherlands, Boere is a music professional and policy strategist. He currently serves as Instructor of Music at New York University Abu Dhabi. He served on the Executive Board of the International Music Council from 2015 to 2019, and he recently took part in the 2024 UNESCO World Conference on Culture and Arts Education in Abu Dhabi.
In addition to his advocacy and academic work, Boere is a singer-songwriter who draws influence from jazz and American songwriting. He has released three albums of original music, and he performs regularly with Jazz.Diwan, an ensemble fusing jazz with Middle Eastern musical traditions.
“Music is one of humanity’s most powerful connectors, and the IMC has championed that truth for more than seventy-five years,” says Boere. “It has a monumental past, and it deserves a monumental future. To meet the realities of a rapidly changing world, our organization must continue to evolve. Its structures, networks and approaches must reflect today’s global landscape. I believe deeply in the IMC’s mission to promote the value of music in the lives of all people. As its President, I am committed to ensuring the organization has the structures and capacity it needs for the decades ahead.”
“IMC’s future is in good hands, and I wish the incoming President and Board members every success in pursuing the rights of all humans globally to participate in music with full flourishing,” says outgoing IMC President Dr. Sheila C. Woodward.
In addition to the appointment of Boere as President, the IMC named a new Executive Board, which consists of Ruben Binam (Cameroon), Alessandra Fernandez Alves Da Costa (Brazil), Keld Hosbond (Denmark), Benon Kigozi (Uganda), Emily Kuo Vong (China-USA-Portugal), Bo-Wah Leung (China / Hong Kong), Obeida Madi (Jordan), Mirco Patarini (Italy), Bertalan Temesi (Hungary).