An ICTMD Ambassador is a volunteer, appointed by the Executive Board, who helps strengthen connections between the Council, its members, communities and institutions by promoting the organization's activities and values. Ambassadors serve as local points of contact, fostering engagement, encouraging participation, and supporting collaboration across regions and disciplines. The initiative was established in 2025 to expand ICTMD's global reach, enhance communication and inclusivity, and build a more connected and active international network of scholars and practitioners. To learn more about the initiative, please see the Guidelines on ICTMD Ambassadors. 

Currently there are two ambassadors: 

Professor Dr. Salwa El-Shawan Castelo-Branco See current mandate 2025-2027

Professor Düsen Kasseinov (Kazakhstan) - See current mandate 2025-2027

Professor Dr. Salwa El-Shawan Castelo-Branco

Mandate Period: 2025–2027

Mission Statement

My goal is to strengthen the relationship between the ICTMD and the Arab world by fostering academic, cultural, and institutional collaboration. I am committed to building meaningful partnerships with universities, conservatories, dance and folklore institutes, music archives, cultural organizations, and scholars throughout the region. By doing so, I hope to create sustainable networks that promote research, dialogue, and the preservation of the Arab world's rich musical and dance traditions. A key priority for me is to strengthen the connection between ICTMD's Study Groups— particularly those focused on Music in the Arab World, Maqam Studies, and Mediterranean Music Studies—and scholars and students across the region. I also aim to support the organization of ICTMD conferences, workshops, and other activities in the Arab world while encouraging greater participation from students and emerging scholars. I plan to establish lasting partnerships with regional institutions and represent ICTMD at cultural forums, festivals, and governmental organizations dedicated to the arts. I also hope to develop close collaboration with the Arab Music Academy, as well as local festivals and conferences, to promote joint initiatives that advance scholarship and cultural exchange. In addition, I will encourage the establishment of ICTMD National and Regional Committees to strengthen local engagement and institutional cooperation. Supporting scholars and students from the Arab world and its diaspora is central to my vision. I want to encourage them to become active ICTMD members, contribute to its activities, and take leadership roles within the organization.

Biography:

Salwa EL-Shawan Castelo-Branco is Professor Emerita of Ethnomusicology, founder and President Emerita of the Instituto de Etnomusicologia – Centro de Estudos em Música e Dança, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. She received her doctorate from Columbia University, taught at New York University (1979-1982), was visiting professor at Columbia University, Princeton University; Tinker Professor at Chicago University, Gulbenkian Professor at the University of California at Berkeley and Overseas Visiting Scholar at St. John’s College, Cambridge University. She carried out field research in Portugal, Egypt and Oman resulting in publications on: cultural politics, musical nationalism, identity, music media, modernity, heritage, and music and conflict. Past academic responsibilities and awards include: President of the International Council for Traditional Music (2013 – 2021); Vice President of the Society for Ethnomusicology (2007 – 2009) and of the International Council for Traditional Music (1997-2001 and 2009-2013); Vice Chancellor of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (2007-2009); President of the Portuguese Musicological Society (1996 – 2006). She received the following honors and awards: International Honorary Member of the American Academy for Arts and Sciences (2024), Honorary Member of the International Council for Traditional Music (2023), Scientific Merit Award of the Foundation of Science and Technology, Portugal (2022), Cultural Merit Award, Ministry of Culture, Republic of Egypt (2019), Glarean Award for music research of the Swiss Musicological Society (2013), the Gold & Silver Medals for Cultural merit of the City Halls of Lisbon and Cascais, respectively (2012 & 2007), and the Pro-Author Award of the Portuguese Author’s Society (2010).

Professor Düsen Kasseinov

Mandate Period: 2025–2027

Mission

My mission is to strengthen ICTMD's academic and cultural presence across Central Asia, the Turkic world, and neighbouring regions by fostering collaboration, innovation, and international engagement. I am committed to building strong partnerships with universities, conservatories, cultural institutions, and research centres while representing ICTMD at international forums, festivals, and governmental meetings to expand our regional presence. A key priority for me is to promote digital innovation by supporting the development of multilingual platforms that provide access to historical recordings, musical scores, and scholarly resources. I also envision long-term initiatives such as AI-assisted digital archives and interactive learning tools that will preserve and make traditional music and dance more accessible to researchers, educators, and the wider public. Supporting the next generation of scholars is central to my vision. I aim to establish a regional ICTMD Youth Council, promote internships, competitions, cultural exchange programmes, and develop scholarship opportunities for emerging ethnomusicologists in collaboration with academic and cultural institutions. I also seek to strengthen ICTMD's strategic partnerships with international and regional organizations, including UNESCO, ICESCO, TURKSOY, national cultural commissions, and diplomatic missions. At the same time, I will support the creation of new National ICTMD Committees and encourage stronger engagement with regional and Turkic diasporas around the world. To advance research and knowledge exchange, I will encourage multilingual publications, academic translations, and collaborative projects, including the long-term development of an Encyclopaedia of Turkic Traditional Music. I also plan to publish an annual regional digest highlighting scholarly achievements and ongoing initiatives. Finally, I am committed to organizing international forums and festivals dedicated to Central Asian traditional music and working toward hosting a future ICTMD World Conference in the region. Through these initiatives, I hope to build a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable network that connects researchers, musicians, educators, archivists, and cultural institutions in preserving and promoting the region's rich musical heritage.

Biography: 

Düsen Kasseinov is a musician, cultural administrator, and international cultural leader from Kazakhstan whose career has spanned music education, cultural policy, cultural diplomacy, and international cooperation. Trained as a violinist, he studied at the Kurmangazy Alma-Ata State Conservatory and completed postgraduate studies at the Moscow State Conservatory.
As Rector of the Kazakh National Conservatory (1987–1997), he contributed to major reforms in higher music education and the integration of traditional musical practices into academic curricula. He later served as Chairman of the Committee for Culture, Deputy Minister, and Minister of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, helping shape cultural policy during the post-Soviet transition.
From 2008 to 2022, Kasseinov served as Secretary General of TÜRKSOY (International Organization of Turkic Culture), where he promoted cultural cooperation, scholarly exchange, and heritage initiatives across the Turkic world while expanding the organization’s international partnerships and strategic cooperation with ICTMD.
Kasseinov played a key role in bringing the 43rd ICTMD World Conference to Astana in 2015, extending the conference’s geographical reach to Central Asia and the Turkic world for the first time, while also marking its first edition hosted in a CIS member state and a Muslim-majority country.
In 2025, he was elected ICTMD Ambassador in recognition of his longstanding contribution to international cultural cooperation, scholarly initiatives, and the safeguarding and promotion of the cultural heritage of Turkic peoples. In his current role as ICTMD Ambassador, he actively supports long-term initiatives dedicated to the preservation, documentation, and international promotion of traditional music heritage, including initiatives such as the Digital Phonogram Archive of Turkic Traditional Music.

Get Involved!  We warmly invite researchers, musicians, educators, archivists, and institutions to take part in these initiatives. If you are interested in partnering, supporting, or joining our projects, please contact us via the Secretariat or write directly to the individual Ambassador's office.