Our team:
Kalle Kanttila, Artist Manager, CEO
Kalle Kanttila is the founder and director of IOA Management. International Opera Artists was established in 2012 and is an agency for opera singers and conductors. It is based in Munich (Germany) & Helsinki (Finland) and provides worldwide services in the field of opera. IOA has rapidly become one of the largest and most significant opera agencies in Europe and it marks itself off from typical European opera agencies thanks to its strong presence also in the USA.
Kalle Kanttila was born in Oulu, Finland. He began his music studies at the Helsinki Conservatory of Music and furthered them at the Zürich Conservatory and the Music Department of University Karlsruhe, Germany.
Before founding IOA, Kalle Kanttila had a career as an opera singer appearing as a soloist at many important opera houses such as the Komische Oper Berlin, National Theater Mannheim, State Opera Wiesbaden, State Opera Darmstadt, State Opera Meiningen, State Opera Nürnberg, State Opera Karlsruhe, Alexander Theater Helsinki, Opera Wuppertal, Schwetzingen Music Festival as well as at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, among many others.
Kalle Kanttila is a jury member at many important singing competitions including the International "Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition", International "Panco Vladigerov" SingingCompetiton in Bulgaria, International Concorso Lirico "Salice d'Oro in Italy, Vello Jürna Singing Competition in Estonia, Young Singers Competition in Izmir (Turkey), International "Lions Singing Competition" at the Opera Festival “Immling” in Germany, International "Zinka Milanov" Singing Competition in Croatia and International "Salvatore Licitra" Competition in Milano. He is also a co-founder of International "Nuovo Canto" Singing Competition in Milano.
Furthermore, Mr. Kanttila is a much sought-after guest lecturer at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, The University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, The National University of Music Bucharest and at many master-classes and seminars in Germany and abroad. I.a. San Francisco, Cluj, Peking, Rome, Vienna etc. and of course, at our own Academy (Bavarian Opera Academy), where we will expect guests from many world class theaters, like the Bavarian State Opera Munich, London Covent Garden, Finnish National Opera, Opera Graz and Wiener Staatsoper, just to name of few.
More info about Bavarian Opera Academy: https://www.bayerische-opernakademie.de
Kalle Kanttila was born in Oulu, Finland. He began his music studies at the Helsinki Conservatory of Music and furthered them at the Zürich Conservatory and the Music Department of University Karlsruhe, Germany.
Before founding IOA, Kalle Kanttila had a career as an opera singer appearing as a soloist at many important opera houses such as the Komische Oper Berlin, National Theater Mannheim, State Opera Wiesbaden, State Opera Darmstadt, State Opera Meiningen, State Opera Nürnberg, State Opera Karlsruhe, Alexander Theater Helsinki, Opera Wuppertal, Schwetzingen Music Festival as well as at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, among many others.
Kalle Kanttila is a jury member at many important singing competitions including the International "Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition", International "Panco Vladigerov" SingingCompetiton in Bulgaria, International Concorso Lirico "Salice d'Oro in Italy, Vello Jürna Singing Competition in Estonia, Young Singers Competition in Izmir (Turkey), International "Lions Singing Competition" at the Opera Festival “Immling” in Germany, International "Zinka Milanov" Singing Competition in Croatia and International "Salvatore Licitra" Competition in Milano. He is also a co-founder of International "Nuovo Canto" Singing Competition in Milano.
Furthermore, Mr. Kanttila is a much sought-after guest lecturer at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, The University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, The National University of Music Bucharest and at many master-classes and seminars in Germany and abroad. I.a. San Francisco, Cluj, Peking, Rome, Vienna etc. and of course, at our own Academy (Bavarian Opera Academy), where we will expect guests from many world class theaters, like the Bavarian State Opera Munich, London Covent Garden, Finnish National Opera, Opera Graz and Wiener Staatsoper, just to name of few.
More info about Bavarian Opera Academy: https://www.bayerische-opernakademie.de
Jan Hultin, Artist Manager/ Senior Advisor
Jan Hultin was born in Lappeenranta, Finland in 1956.
The Finnish National Opera
In 1987, Hultin was taken on by the Finnish National Opera, where he worked as a production assistant, producer and head of productions until 1994. As a tour manager, he was responsible for the biggest tour in the history of the Finnish National Ballet, the tour to the United States in 1988. During this tour, the National Ballet visited 32 different towns on the East Coast of the United States.
In 1992, Jan Hultin managed the guest appearance of the Finnish National Opera at Los Angeles Opera, during which the opera Kullervo by Aulis Sallinen was given its world premiere.
As head of productions at the Finnish National Opera, Jan Hultin was responsible for production planning and its execution, the rota for his own ensemble and agreement negotiations with visiting artists. He also played a leading role in planning the inauguration of the new Opera House and carrying out the opening and settling-in process. His immediate superiors during his years at the Finnish National Opera included Paavo Suokko, Jorma Hynninen and Ilkka Kuusisto, and later Walton Grönroos and Miguel Gomez-Martinez.
The Savonlinna Opera Festival
In 1994, Jan Hultin was appointed Managing Director of Savonlinna Opera Festival Ltd with special reference to the development of new business. For the next eight years, his time was occupied mainly with artist agency, production hire, foreign tours, hotel and restaurant business.
His term as Managing Director 1994–2002 was a very active one for the Opera Festival in terms of production hire and foreign tours. All the Savonlinna Opera Festival’s visits abroad were achieved by him, including the negotiations over their agreements and their execution. These tours are a form of Finnish cultural export operating on business principles, and they have been clearly profitable.
In terms of volume, the artist agency was the most significant line of business for Savonlinna Opera Festival Ltd. At its height, the Savonlinna Opera Agency represented artists of some 20 nationalities at opera houses and concert halls all over the world. During this period, the Oopperkellari restaurant with live entertainment – Hultin’s idea – also reached its peak. His closest colleagues in his years as a Managing Director of Savonlinna Opera Festival Ltd were General Director Paavo Suokko and Artistic Director Jorma Hynninen.
From 2002 until 2012, Jan Hultin held the position of General Director of the Savonlinna Opera Festival. He continued his predecessors’ work by strengthening the position of the Savonlinna Opera Festival as one of the world’s top festivals. During this time, the Festival’s Artistic Directors were opera singer Raimo Sirkiä (2002–2007) and conductor Jari Hämäläinen (2008–2012).
The position of General Director involves the management of an exacting band of experts in challenging conditions. In an organisation that has to generate nearly 85% of its funds, balancing artistic standard and interest value with sound financial management has been one of Hultin’s focal tasks.
In addition to directing the organisation, Jan Hultin has been especially active in masterminding productions targeted at children and families and projects exploring new creative avenues.
His active participation in the work of Opera America and Opera Europa, agency business, various co-projects, production hire, foreign tours and the annual visits to the Savonlinna Opera Festival by foreign opera houses have allowed Hultin to build an extremely wide and close international network within the field of opera. His contacts are not, however, confined solely to culture, since he also has strong connections within Finnish business and politics.
Since 2013 Jan Hultin works as a Senior Advisor & Artists Manager at International Opera Artists.
The Finnish National Opera
In 1987, Hultin was taken on by the Finnish National Opera, where he worked as a production assistant, producer and head of productions until 1994. As a tour manager, he was responsible for the biggest tour in the history of the Finnish National Ballet, the tour to the United States in 1988. During this tour, the National Ballet visited 32 different towns on the East Coast of the United States.
In 1992, Jan Hultin managed the guest appearance of the Finnish National Opera at Los Angeles Opera, during which the opera Kullervo by Aulis Sallinen was given its world premiere.
As head of productions at the Finnish National Opera, Jan Hultin was responsible for production planning and its execution, the rota for his own ensemble and agreement negotiations with visiting artists. He also played a leading role in planning the inauguration of the new Opera House and carrying out the opening and settling-in process. His immediate superiors during his years at the Finnish National Opera included Paavo Suokko, Jorma Hynninen and Ilkka Kuusisto, and later Walton Grönroos and Miguel Gomez-Martinez.
The Savonlinna Opera Festival
In 1994, Jan Hultin was appointed Managing Director of Savonlinna Opera Festival Ltd with special reference to the development of new business. For the next eight years, his time was occupied mainly with artist agency, production hire, foreign tours, hotel and restaurant business.
His term as Managing Director 1994–2002 was a very active one for the Opera Festival in terms of production hire and foreign tours. All the Savonlinna Opera Festival’s visits abroad were achieved by him, including the negotiations over their agreements and their execution. These tours are a form of Finnish cultural export operating on business principles, and they have been clearly profitable.
In terms of volume, the artist agency was the most significant line of business for Savonlinna Opera Festival Ltd. At its height, the Savonlinna Opera Agency represented artists of some 20 nationalities at opera houses and concert halls all over the world. During this period, the Oopperkellari restaurant with live entertainment – Hultin’s idea – also reached its peak. His closest colleagues in his years as a Managing Director of Savonlinna Opera Festival Ltd were General Director Paavo Suokko and Artistic Director Jorma Hynninen.
From 2002 until 2012, Jan Hultin held the position of General Director of the Savonlinna Opera Festival. He continued his predecessors’ work by strengthening the position of the Savonlinna Opera Festival as one of the world’s top festivals. During this time, the Festival’s Artistic Directors were opera singer Raimo Sirkiä (2002–2007) and conductor Jari Hämäläinen (2008–2012).
The position of General Director involves the management of an exacting band of experts in challenging conditions. In an organisation that has to generate nearly 85% of its funds, balancing artistic standard and interest value with sound financial management has been one of Hultin’s focal tasks.
In addition to directing the organisation, Jan Hultin has been especially active in masterminding productions targeted at children and families and projects exploring new creative avenues.
His active participation in the work of Opera America and Opera Europa, agency business, various co-projects, production hire, foreign tours and the annual visits to the Savonlinna Opera Festival by foreign opera houses have allowed Hultin to build an extremely wide and close international network within the field of opera. His contacts are not, however, confined solely to culture, since he also has strong connections within Finnish business and politics.
Since 2013 Jan Hultin works as a Senior Advisor & Artists Manager at International Opera Artists.
Greta Shelley Medina, Artist Manager (Latin America) & CEO of Spinto Talent, Mexico
Greta holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Relations from the Universidad Iberoamericana and Master’s Degree in Foreign Relations from Georgetown University, specializing in business-government relations. She also holds a Global Leadership Executive Certificate from Thunderbird School of Global Management (2016) and post-graduate studies in International Business from Berkeley University (2008) and in Business-Government Relations from Georgetown University (2012); she took a course on Promoting Culture and Tourism at the Instituto Matías Romero, of the Mexican Department of Foreign Affairs (2015), a course on Cross Cultural Communications at Thunderbird School of Global Management (2017) and a certificate in Digital Marketing from Columbia University (2019). She is also an expert on government and business protocol.
Prior to her founding Spinto, Greta held several positions at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1994-1999) in both the North America Division and the Minister ́s Office. She was a graduate fellow at Kissinger McLarty Associates in Washington, D.C., (2001) and worked for Michael Storrs Music, London as a PR and Events Manager (2004-2008); at Zimat Consultores she was a Senior Consultant (2008-2013 and in 2017) and at ProMéxico she was the Trade and Investment Commissioner for: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (2014-2017).
She founded Spinto a communication consulting firm and Spinto Talent an agency for booking and PR for artists, in her roster she has Javier Camarena for Mexico and LATAM (with ICP); Karen Gardeazabal, Rebeca Olvera, Benito Rodríguez, Diego Silva, Cassandra Zoé Velasco, Guadalupe Paz, Irasema Terrazas; the pianists Angel Rodríguez and Silvia Navarrete and the composer Joan Valent.
Greta is an associate of the Mexican Council of Foreign Affairs (COMEXI) since 2005.
CEO of Spinto Talent
Prior to her founding Spinto, Greta held several positions at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1994-1999) in both the North America Division and the Minister ́s Office. She was a graduate fellow at Kissinger McLarty Associates in Washington, D.C., (2001) and worked for Michael Storrs Music, London as a PR and Events Manager (2004-2008); at Zimat Consultores she was a Senior Consultant (2008-2013 and in 2017) and at ProMéxico she was the Trade and Investment Commissioner for: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (2014-2017).
She founded Spinto a communication consulting firm and Spinto Talent an agency for booking and PR for artists, in her roster she has Javier Camarena for Mexico and LATAM (with ICP); Karen Gardeazabal, Rebeca Olvera, Benito Rodríguez, Diego Silva, Cassandra Zoé Velasco, Guadalupe Paz, Irasema Terrazas; the pianists Angel Rodríguez and Silvia Navarrete and the composer Joan Valent.
Greta is an associate of the Mexican Council of Foreign Affairs (COMEXI) since 2005.
CEO of Spinto Talent
Elisabeth Margraf, Artist Assistant
After receiving her degree in Music and Musicology from the Sorbonne in Paris, the South Tyrolian soprano Elisabeth Margraf undertook her studies in musical theatre at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York and a professional training in dance at the Broadway Dance Center. She discovered her true passion - opera and the classical vocal arts - during her additional musical studies at the Evening Division of The Juilliard School and has returned to Europe to continue on this path. Furthermore, Ms Margraf spent three summers working at the Information Center at the Salzburg Festival in Austria and, during her studies in New York, was an Extension manager at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She speaks German, English, French and Italian.
Xin Wang, Artists Manager (China)
Xin Wang was born in China and holds a master's degree in Opera Singing from China Central Conservatory of Music in Peking and Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität. Further, she completed her studies at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien.
Xin Wang has been awarded with many prizes in international singing competitions such as first prize at the „1st International Opera Competition Hongkong“, and 3rd prize at the 16th International Singing Competition in Grosseto (Italy), among many others.
She is a sought-after soloits on many concert & opera stages including the Carnegie Hall in New York, Bruckner Haus Linz, Grafenegg Festival in Austria, Bulgarian State Opera Stara Zagora, Wiener Konzerthaus, Stephaniensaal Graz and Odeon Salzburg.
Besides her career as a singer, Ms. Wang also gained work experience in different positions in the cultural field: she is a Vice President of the European-Chinese Culture Exchange Education and Science Association, Artistic Organizer of the Chinese Opera Ball at the Hofburg in Vienna (since 2018), and brought many orchestras and prestigious artists for concert tours to China.
Since October 2019, Xin Wang has been working as an Artists Manager at International Opera Artists and focuses on representing IOA singers in China. In addition to her native language (Chinese), Ms. Wang is also fluent in German and English.
Xin Wang has been awarded with many prizes in international singing competitions such as first prize at the „1st International Opera Competition Hongkong“, and 3rd prize at the 16th International Singing Competition in Grosseto (Italy), among many others.
She is a sought-after soloits on many concert & opera stages including the Carnegie Hall in New York, Bruckner Haus Linz, Grafenegg Festival in Austria, Bulgarian State Opera Stara Zagora, Wiener Konzerthaus, Stephaniensaal Graz and Odeon Salzburg.
Besides her career as a singer, Ms. Wang also gained work experience in different positions in the cultural field: she is a Vice President of the European-Chinese Culture Exchange Education and Science Association, Artistic Organizer of the Chinese Opera Ball at the Hofburg in Vienna (since 2018), and brought many orchestras and prestigious artists for concert tours to China.
Since October 2019, Xin Wang has been working as an Artists Manager at International Opera Artists and focuses on representing IOA singers in China. In addition to her native language (Chinese), Ms. Wang is also fluent in German and English.