International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance
A Non-Governmental Organization in Formal Consultative Relations with UNESCO
History of the governance of ICTMD
The present Executive Board of the Council consists of a President, two Vice Presidents, and nine Ordinary Members, who are elected by the membership. As per ICTMD Statute 7.2., the Executive Board may also co-opt up to three additional members, while the editor of the Council’s journal is an ex-officio member of the Board for the duration of their mandate. While there has always been a President of the Council, the number of Vice Presidents and of Ordinary Executive Board Members has varied at different points in time. Before Board members were directly elected by the membership (since 2005), they were appointed by other members of the Board.
The Secretariat concerns the day-to-day running of the Council. The title of the person heading the Secretariat has changed through the years, as have the titles and functions of the person(s) assisting in this work.
The lists below celebrate the individuals who have served in these roles that are fundamental to the running of the Council. Information has been taken from Bulletins and the minutes of Executive Board meetings. We welcome any corrections.
You can click on table headers to sort rows by that column.
Executive Board
Presidents
| Name | Country | Period ▾ | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Vaughan Williams, Ralph | UK | 1947–1958 |
 |
Kunst, Jaap | The Netherlands | 1959–1960 |
 |
Kodály, Zoltán | Hungary | 1961–1967 |
 |
Rhodes, Willard | USA | 1967–1973 |
 |
Karpeles, Maud | UK | 1963–1976 (Honorary) |
 |
Wachsmann, Klaus P. | UK | 1973–1977 |
 |
Rovsing Olsen, Poul | Denmark | 1977–1982 |
 |
Stockmann, Erich | Germany | 1982–1997 |
 |
Seeger, Anthony | USA | 1997–1999 |
 |
Malm, Krister | Sweden | 1999–2005 |
 |
Kaeppler, Adrienne L. | USA | 2005–2013 |
 |
Castelo-Branco, Salwa El-Shawan | Portugal | 2013–2021 |
 |
Pettan, Svanibor | Slovenia | 2021–2025 |
 |
Tan Sooi Beng | Malaysia | 2025–2029 |
Vice Presidents
| Name ▾ | Country | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Araújo, Samuel | Brazil | 2023-2027 |
| Barbeau, Marius | Canada | 1958-1969 |
| Castelo-Branco, Salwa El-Shawan | Portugal | 1997-2001 |
| Castelo-Branco, Salwa El-Shawan | Portugal | 2009-2013 |
| Cherbuliez, Antoine-Elysée | Switzerland | 1948-1964 |
| Collaer, Paul | Belgium | 1964-1970 |
| Diettrich, Brian | New Zealand | 2025-2029 |
| Elschek, Oskár | Czechoslovakia/Slovakia | 1987-1997 |
| Kaeppler, Adrienne L. | USA | 2001-2005 |
| Kennedy, Douglas | UK | 1975-1976 |
| Lewin, Olive | Jamaica | 1987-1995 |
| Lorenzen, Poul | Denmark | 1947-1951 |
| Mahdi, Salah el- | Tunisia | 1983-1987 |
| Malm, Krister | Sweden | 1995-1999 |
| Marcel-Dubois, Claudie | France | 1967-1987 |
| Marett, Allan | Australia | 2005-2009 |
| Marinus, Albert | Belgium | 1947-1962 |
| Niles, Don | Papua New Guinea | 2013-2017 |
| Niles, Don | Papua New Guinea | 2019-2023 |
| O’Sullivan, Donal | Ireland | 1962-1966 |
| Pettan, Svanibor | Slovenia | 2009-2011 |
| Pettan, Svanibor | Slovenia | 2017-2021 |
| Rhodes, Willard | USA | 1973-1980 |
| Sandvik, Ole Mørk | Norway | 1954-1968 |
| Stockmann, Erich | Germany | 1975-1981 |
| Sultanova, Razia | UK | 2015-2019 |
| Tan Sooi Beng | Malaysia | 2021-2025 |
| Trần Văn Khê | Vietnam | 1979-1987 |
| van Zanten, Wim | The Netherlands | 2005-2009 |
| Wachsmann, Klaus P. | USA | 1970-1973 |
| Wild, Stephen | Australia | 2001-2005 |
| Wild, Stephen | Australia | 2011-2015 |
| Wiora, Walter | Germany | 1970-1979 |
Ordinary Board Members
| Name ▾ | Country | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandru, Tiberiu | Romania | 1970-1979 (co-opted) |
| Almeida, Renato | Brazil | 1947-1964 |
| Araújo, Samuel | Brazil | 1999-2001 (co-opted) |
| Araújo, Samuel | Brazil | 2009-2011 (co-opted) |
| Araújo, Samuel | Brazil | 2011-2017 |
| Aretz de Ramón y Rivera, Isabel | Venezuela | 1964-1973 |
| Avorgbedor, Daniel | Ghana | 2021-2023 (co-opted) |
| Avorgbedor, Daniel | Ghana | 2023-2027 |
| Ayyangar, Ranganayaki | India | 1981-1985 (co-opted) |
| Ayyangar, Ranganayaki | India | 1985-1988 |
| Baké, Arnold A. | The Netherlands | 1953-1955 (co-opted) |
| Baké, Arnold A. | The Netherlands | 1958-1959 (co-opted) |
| Baké, Arnold A. | The Netherlands | 1959-1963 |
| Bakka, Egil | Norway | 1999-2005 |
| al-Barwani, Khalfan | Oman | 1994-1999 (co-opted) |
| Baud-Bovy, Samuel | Switzerland | 1977-1982 |
| Baumann, Max-Peter | Switzerland | 1991-1997 |
| Bayard, Samuel P. | USA | 1956-1962 (co-opted) |
| Béhague, Gérard | USA | 1995-1999 |
| Bielawski, Ludwik | Poland | 1985-1987 (co-opted) |
| Bielawski, Ludwik | Poland | 1987-1991 |
| Binson, Bussakorn | Thailand | 2017-2019 (co-opted) |
| Blacking, John | UK | 1976-1979 |
| Blacking, John | UK | 1987-1989 |
| Bröcker, Marianne | Germany | 1997-2007 |
| Bröcker, Marianne | Germany | 2007-2009 (co-opted) |
| Bruinders, Sylvia | South Africa | 2025-2029 |
| de Carvalho, João Soeiro | Portugal | 2019-2021 (co-opted) |
| Castelo-Branco, Salwa El-Shawan | Portugal | 1984-1987 (co-opted) |
| Castelo-Branco, Salwa El-Shawan | Portugal | 1987-1997 |
| Ceribašić, Naila | Croatia | 2011-2023 |
| Chaudhuri, Shubha | India | 1993-1999 |
| Citro, Silvia | Argentina | 2019-2021 (co-opted) |
| Citro, Silvia | Argentina | 2021-2027 |
| Christensen, Dieter | USA | 1970-1979 (co-opted) |
| Christensen, Dieter | USA | 1979-1991 |
| Christensen, Dieter | USA | 1999 (co-opted) |
| Cooke, Peter | UK | 1978-1981 (co-opted) |
| Cooke, Peter | UK | 1981-1987 |
| Corrêa de Azevedo, Luiz-Heitor | Brazil | 1970-1975 (co-opted) |
| Corrêa de Azevedo, Luiz-Heitor | Brazil | 1975-1976 |
| Crossley-Holland, Peter | UK | 1963-1967 (co-opted) |
| Crossley-Holland, Peter | UK | 1967-1977 |
| Czekanowska-Kuklinska, Anna | Poland | 1976-1979 (co-opted) |
| Czekanowska-Kuklinska, Anna | Poland | 1979-1985 |
| Daems, Hendrik | Belgium | 1977-1982 |
| Dal, Erik | Denmark | 1956-1969 |
| Devčić, Natko | Yugoslavia | 1947-1953 |
| Diamond, Beverley | Canada | 2001-2007 |
| Diamond, Beverley | Canada | 2007-2009 (co-opted) |
| Diettrich, Brian | New Zealand | 2019-2025 |
| Dragoi, Sabin | Romania | 1960-1962 (co-opted) |
| Dragoi, Sabin | Romania | 1962-1966 |
| el-Mahdi, Salah | Tunisia | 1973-1983 |
| Elschek, Oskár | Czechoslovakia | 1971-1987 |
| Emrich, Duncan | USA | 1947-1953 |
| Euba, O. Akin | Nigeria | 1971-1974 (co-opted) |
| Foley, Catherine | Ireland | 2015-2017 (co-opted) |
| Foley, Catherine | Ireland | 2017-2023 |
| García, Miguel A. | Argentina | 2017-2019 (co-opted) |
| García Matos, Manuel | Spain | 1962-1964 |
| Gerson-Kiwi, Edith | Israel | 1968-1981 |
| Haywood, Charles | USA | 1970-1978 (co-opted) |
| Hemetek, Ursula | Austria | 2005-2007 (co-opted) |
| Hemetek, Ursula | Austria | 2007-2013 |
| Hughes, David | UK | 1993-1999 |
| Jairazbhoy, Nazir Ali | USA | 1971-1985 |
| Kaeppler, Adrienne L. | USA | 1999-2001 (co-opted) |
| Katz, Israel J. | USA | 1977-1978 |
| Kennedy, Douglas | UK | 1947-1975 |
| Kidula, Jean | USA | 2009-2015 |
| Kishibe Shigeo | Japan | 1977-1983 |
| Kraus, Egon | Germany | 1953-1958? (co-opted) |
| Kraus, Egon | Germany | 1958?-1981 |
| Kunst, Jaap | The Netherlands | 1949-1951 (co-opted) |
| Kunst, Jaap | The Netherlands | 1951-1958 |
| Lajtha Laszló | Hungary | 1947-1962 |
| Lalendle, Lumkile | South Africa | 1997-1999 (co-opted) |
| Lee Hye-ku | Korea | 1979-1983 (co-opted) |
| Lee Hye-ku | Korea | 1983-1989 |
| Lee Tong Soon | Singapore/USA | 2017-2022 (ex-officio) |
| Lewin, Olive | Jamaica | 1970-1981 |
| Lewin, Olive | Jamaica | 1981-1983 (co-opted) |
| Lewin, Olive | Jamaica | 1983-1987 |
| Maceda, José | Philippines | 1984-1985 (co-opted) |
| Maceda, José | Philippines | 1985-1989 |
| Malm, Krister | Sweden | 1983-1995 |
| Mapoma, I. Mwesa | Zambia | 1978-1981 (co-opted) |
| Mapoma, I. Mwesa | Zambia | 1981-1994 |
| Marcel-Dubois, Claudie | France | 1947-1967 |
| Marett, Allan | Australia | 1997-2003 |
| Menezes Bastos, Rafael | Brazil | 1997-1999 (co-opted) |
| Michaelides, Solon | Greece | 1948-1951 (co-opted) |
| Michaelides, Solon | Greece | 1951-1968 |
| Mohd Anis Md Nor | Malaysia | 2013-2015 (co-opted) |
| Muslu, Olcay | Turkey | 2023-2025 (co-opted) |
| Nataletti, Giorgio | Italy | 1949-1956 (co-opted) |
| Nettl, Bruno | USA | 1976-1977 (co-opted) |
| Niles, Don | Papua New Guinea | 2007-2013 |
| Niles, Don | Papua New Guinea |
2017-2019
|
| Nketia, J. H. Kwabena | Ghana | 1959-1971 (co-opted) |
| Nzewi, Meki | Nigeria | 1981-1983 (co-opted) |
| Nzewi, Meki | Nigeria | 1983-1985 |
| Ó Briain, Lonán | Ireland | 2022-present (ex-officio) |
| O’Sullivan, Donal | Ireland | 1956-1962 (co-opted) |
| Omibiyi, Mosunmola | Nigeria | 1974-1975 (co-opted) |
| Omondi, Washington | Kenya | 1985-1988 (co-opted) |
| Opondo, Patricia | South Africa | 2001-2004 (co-opted) |
| Opondo, Patricia | South Africa | 2004-2009 |
| Ostashewski, Marcia | Canada | 2019-2025 |
| Ozah, Marie Agatha | Nigeria | 2015-2023 |
| Ozah, Marie Agatha | Nigeria | 2023-2027 |
| Palčok, Zoran | Yugoslavia | 1953-1955 |
| Petridis, Petro | Greece | 1947-1951 |
| Petrović, Radmila | Yugoslavia | 1971-1985 |
| Pettan, Svanibor | Slovenia | 2001-2009 |
| Pinon, Roger | Belgium | 1962-1963 (co-opted) |
| Pinon, Roger | Belgium | 1963-1971 |
| Pop, Mihai | Romania | 1967-1971 |
| Rajeczky Benjamin | Hungary | 1967-1979 |
| Rekedal, Jacob | Chile | 2025-2027 (co-opted) |
| Rhodes, Willard | USA | 1956-1962 (co-opted) |
| Rhodes, Willard | USA | 1962-1967 |
| Rice, Timothy | USA | 2007-2013 |
| Ringer, Alexander | USA | 1967-1971 (co-opted) |
| Rovsing Olsen, Poul | Denmark | 1970-1977 |
| Sandvik, Ole Mørk | Norway | 1947-1953 |
| Santaella, Mayco A. | Argentina/Malaysia | 2023-2025 (co-opted) |
| Santaella, Mayco A. | Argentina/Malaysia | 2025-2029 |
| Santos, Artur | Portugal | 1948-1951 |
| Sardo, Susana | Portugal | 2023-2027 |
| Sarkar Munsi, Urmimala | India | 2023-2025 (co-opted) |
| Sarkar Munsi, Urmimala | India | 2025-2029 |
| Sárosi, Bálint | Hungary | 1978-1981 (co-opted) |
| Sárosi, Bálint | Hungary | 1981-1991 |
| Saygun, Ahmed Adnan | Turkey | 1947-1962 |
| Seebass, Tilman | Austria | 1999-2005 |
| Seeger, Anthony | USA | 1987-1997 |
| Seeger, Anthony | USA | 1999-2001 |
| Seeger, Charles | USA | 1952-1953 (co-opted) |
| Seeger, Charles | USA | 1953-1956 |
| Sheen Dae-Cheol | Korea | 2009-2011 (co-opted) |
| Smith, Barbara | USA | 1966-1970 |
| Sordo Sodi, Carmen | Mexico | 1976-1978 (co-opted) |
| Stepputat, Kendra | Austria | 2021-2027 |
| Stock, Jonathan P.J. | UK | 2004-2009 |
| Stock, Jonathan P.J. | UK | 2013-2019 |
| Stockmann, Erich | Germany | 1964-1975 |
| Sultanova, Razia | UK | 2011-2013 (co-opted) |
| Sultanova, Razia | UK | 2013-2015 (co-opted) |
| Suppan, Wolfgang | Germany | 1985-1991 |
| Szego, Kati | Canada | 2009-2011 (co-opted) |
| Szego, Kati | Canada | 2011-2017 |
| Talam, Jasmina | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2021-2027 |
| Tan Sooi Beng | Malaysia | 2005-2011 |
| Tan Sooi Beng | Malaysia | 2015-2021 |
| Terada Yoshitaka | Japan | 2013-2019 |
| Tô Ngoc Thanh | Vietnam | 1999-2005 |
| Tokumaru Yoshihiko | Japan | 1983-1989 |
| Torp, Lisbet | Denmark | 1987-1989 (co-opted) |
| Torp, Lisbet | Denmark | 1989-1999 |
| Trần Quang Hải | France | 2005-2011 |
| Trần Quang Hải | France | 2011-2017 |
| Trần Văn Khê | Vietnam | 1975-1979 |
| Trimillos, Ricardo | USA | 1978-1985 (co-opted) |
| Trimillos, Ricardo | USA | 1985-1991 |
| Trimillos, Ricardo | USA | 1991-1993 (co-opted) |
| Tsao Pen-Yeh | Hong Kong | 1989-1993 (co-opted) |
| Tsuge Gen’ichi | Japan | 1987-1989 (co-opted) |
| Tsuge Gen’ichi | Japan | 1989-2001 |
| Tsukada Kenichi | Japan | 2001-2007 |
| Vetterl, Karel | Czechoslovakia | 1962-1970 |
| Vodušek, Valens | Yugoslavia | 1967-1971 |
| Wachsmann, Klaus | Uganda | 1947-1957 |
| Wachsmann, Klaus | UK | 1958-1963 |
| Wachsmann, Klaus | USA | 1963-1965 |
| Wachsmann, Klaus | UK | 1966-1970 |
| Wang Yaohua | China | 2001-2005 (co-opted) |
| Wild, Stephen | Australia | 1989-1991 (co-opted) |
| Wild, Stephen | Australia | 1991-1997 |
| Wiora, Walter | Germany | 1955-1956 (co-opted) |
| Wiora, Walter | Germany | 1956-1969 |
| Witzig, Louise | Switzerland | 1947-1956 |
| Witzleben, J. Lawrence | USA | 2009-2015 |
| Witzleben, J. Lawrence | USA | 2015-2021 |
| Wrazen, Louise | Canada | 2019-2023 |
| Xiao Mei | China | 2011-2013 (co-opted) |
| Xiao Mei | China | 2013-2019 |
| Yelemanova, Saida | Kazakhstan | 2013-2015 (co-opted) |
| van Zanten, Wim | The Netherlands | 1996-2005 |
| van Zanten, Wim | The Netherlands | 2009-2011 |
| Zemtsovsky, Izaly | Russia | 1989-1993 (co-opted) |
| Žganec, Vinko | Yugoslavia | 1955-1967 |
Secretariat
Secretaries General and equivalent positions
| Name | Country | Period ▾ | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karpeles, Maud | UK | 1947-1963 | Secretary |
| Band, Robin W. I. | UK | 1963-1965 | Executive Secretary |
| Krader, Barbara | USA | 1965-1966 | Executive Secretary |
| Stallman, Felicia | UK | 1966-1967 | Executive Secretary |
| Ejlers, Christian | Denmark | 1967-1968 | Executive Secretary |
| Matthews, Connie | Jamaica/Denmark | 1968-1969 | Executive Secretary |
| George, Graham | Canada | 1969-1972 | Honorary Executive Secretary |
| George, Graham | Canada | 1972-1980 | Secretary General |
| Christensen, Dieter | USA | 1981-2001 | Secretary General |
| Seeger, Anthony | USA | 2001-2005 | Secretary General |
| Wild, Stephen | Australia | 2006-2011 | Secretary General |
| Pettan, Svanibor | Slovenia | 2011-2017 | Secretary General |
| Hemetek, Ursula | Austria | 2017-2021 | Secretary General |
| Lee Tong Soon | Singapore/USA | 2021-2025 | Secretary General |
Executive Secretaries and equivalent positions
| Name | Country | Period ▾ | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwynn Williams, W. S. | UK | 1948-1955 | Honorary Treasurer |
| Gwynn Williams, W. S. | UK | 1956-1966 | Treasurer |
| Band, Robin W. I. | UK | 1962-1963 | Executive Secretary |
| Skillen, Jane | UK | 1965-1967 | Assistant Secretary |
| Matthews, Connie | Jamaica/Denmark | 1967 | Assistant Secretary |
| Rovsing Olsen, Poul | Denmark | 1967-1969 | Treasurer |
| Kirkiacharian, Chakée | Denmark | 1968-1969 | Assistant Secretary |
| George, Tjot | Canada | 1969-1980 | Assistant Secretary |
| Parkinson, T. H. R. | Canada | 1970-1976 | Treasurer |
| Christensen, Nerthus | USA | 1981-2001 | Executive Secretary |
| Salloum, Kelly | USA | 2001 | Membership and Publication Coordinator |
| Salloum, Kelly | USA | 2002-2005 | Membership and Publication Coordinator/Treasurer |
| Proberts, Lee-Anne | Australia | 2006-2011 | Executive Assistant |
| Yoder, Carlos | Argentina/Slovenia | 2011-2022 | Executive Assistant |
| Yoder, Carlos | Argentina/Slovenia | 2022-2025 | Executive Secretary |