Availability of docents depends on number of workshop participants (5 participants per docent are needed), but all instruments will be taught by the docents which are available per workshop even if less than 5 participants have booked one instrument/vocal class.
Julia Zipprick (vocals)
Julia Zipprick (she/her) is a singer, composer and vocal educator based in Cologne. She is a member of the improvisation collective VokalOrchester NRW and the Latin American–Cologne band AMAGO, and performs as a soloist with big bands and jazz ensembles. During her artistic career, she has worked with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Theo Bleckmann and Rhiannon, among others, and has sung backing vocals for various artists, including Jamie Cullum, Stefanie Heinzmann and Max Mutzke.
As a qualified vocal educator and authorised Complete Vocal Technique (CVT) teacher, she teaches popular singing, vocal pedagogy and vocal improvisation at the University of Cologne and the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, and as a guest lecturer at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts and the Cologne University of Music. She also works independently as a professional development trainer and vocal coach for organisations including the German Music Council, the German Choral Association and numerous choirs throughout the German-speaking world. Recent engagements include teaching at the Black Forest Voices Festival (2026), VocCologne (2025 and 2026) and the Aarhus Vocal Festival (2024), as well as serving on the jury of the German Choir Competition (2023).
By founding the Cologne Voice Collective in 2024, Julia Zipprick created an open network for communal singing, vocal improvisation and musical encounters. Monthly vocal jams, workshops and music trips bring together people with different musical experiences, ages and backgrounds. At the heart of her work are a strengths-based approach to teaching, a consistently supportive learning atmosphere built on mutual respect, and the conviction that musical quality and a learning environment free from fear are mutually dependent.
Julia earned diplomas in jazz singing and vocal pedagogy at the Cologne University of Music, studied Complete Vocal Technique in Copenhagen (authorised CVT teacher) and trained in vocal improvisation with Rhiannon (All The Way In diploma). She continues her professional development in improvisation, Estill Voice Technique, Vocal Flow, the Lichtenberg method, body percussion and many other fields.
Nicola Lombardi (piano, saxophone)
Nicole Lombardi is an experienced piano player in classic music as well as in jazz music. He studied piano in Conservatorio G.B. Martini Bologna and is now an active musician playing in many combos and he is closely connected with jazz activities at Conservatorio Pollini di Padova. We hope to have many applications for piano in order to he able to hire Nicola as well on our next workshop. (and see: Nicola@Instagram)
Antonio Paone Lumastro (guitar)
Antonio Paone Lumastro is a professional guitarist and music educator based in Verona, Italy. He holds a First Level Degree in Jazz Guitar from the Conservatory of Mantua and a Second Level Degree in Pop Rock Guitar from the Conservatory of Milan. Antonio regularly performs as a live and studio guitarist for original projects, cover bands, and tribute bands, collaborating with organizations such as Art WhyNot, Jam For Live, Live for Music, Magix Promotion, and The Saifam Group. Antonio is permanent staff member of our workshop.
As a music educator, Antonio teaches guitar and various music-related subjects at several music academies. His lessons combine improvisation, rhythm and harmony training, reharmonization techniques, and practical musical skills tailored to students of all levels and ages. For more details about Antonio, please visit: Hompage:AntonioPaoneLumastro SocialMedia:AntonioPaoneLumastro
Bernd J. Kröger (vocals, piano, double bass, e-bass, drums, Member of Jazz Education Network JEN)
Bernd is an experienced double bass player, who did a reasonable music career in the early 80s. In these times he played together with great Jazz musicians like Silvia Droste, Cliff Wren, Romy Cameron, Ralf Peyer, Sean Moyses, … In most times he worked as a freelancer in order to be able to study physics, phonetics, linguistics and musicology in parallel. He is currently working at RWTH Aachen University (see: www.speechtrainer.eu). Bernd is the organiser and permanent staff member of the Montegrotto JazzWorkshop. (see also: Bernd at https://linktr.ee/bjkroeger) and see Bernd’s JazzTalk (his reels) on https://www.instagram.com/bernd.j.kroeger/
