Lena Khandros has over 20 years of senior experience in global marketing, communications, and strategic program management. From New York to Singapore, her progressive and successful career in the corporate world (American Express in New York, Standard Chartered Bank and JP Morgan in Singapore), combined with her extensive experience in the non-profit performing arts sector (Brooklyn Center for the Performing arts in Brooklyn, the Intercultural Theatre Institute in Singapore), are the bedrock on which Momentum Artists is built.

Lena is not only passionate about the arts and culture, but has also volunteered her skills and time to the Arts & Business Council of New York, 92nd Street Y, as well as the Over the Rainbow Foundation in Singapore. “Music has always been an essential part of my life,” says Lena. “Even prior to launching Momentum Artists—and often times pro-bono—I’d end up helping my musician-friends in a managerial capacity to grow and develop their careers.”

Lena holds an MA in Performing Arts Administration from New York University and a BA in Music Education from Kiev Pedagogical College. She is a graduate of the Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac NewVenture Program, and a certified Innovation Coach. Read more about Lena on LinkedIn – and feel free to reach out and connect.

Ania Perzanowska has an extensive background in arts programming and management, cultural diplomacy, and project development. She holds an M.A. in Ethnomusicology and a B.A. in Business Administration. From 2007 to 2019, she served as the music curator for the Polish Cultural Institute New York, where she was responsible for planning and implementing projects promoting Polish culture in the U.S.

She has worked on presenting events and concerts in partnership with such diverse institutions as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, BAM, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Santa Fe Opera, Bard Music Festival, Luminato Festival, International Festival of Arts & Ideas, World Music Festival Chicago, Symphony Space, The Morgan Library, Juilliard, Yale University, MoMA, (Le) Poisson Rouge, National Sawdust, Joe’s Pub and many more. Ania works with several Polish contemporary composers on presenting their music in North America, including Krzysztof Penderecki, Agata Zubel and Paweł Mykietyn and has also programmed and promoted works of Witold Lutosławski, Henryk Górecki and other titans of Polish music. Over the years, she has collaborated with dozens of exceptional artists and ensembles, among them the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, JACK Quartet, American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME), Silesian String Quartet, and Arte dei Suonatori to name a few. Ania is the executive producer of the North American edition of the Jazztopad Festival and co-curator responsible for bringing the adventurous UNSOUND festival to New York.

Music has been Ania’s passion since her early years when at the age of five she started playing piano and cello. Her broad music education, interests, and experience led her to work on projects across varying genres and formats.

Igor Reznik comes from the alternative rock world. He is first and foremost a musician and band manager, which he has been for over 15 years. He is the bass player and manager for bands such as the Sonsof Venus and Mad Meg, amongst others. Under his guidance, the music from his projects was featured on international television, in international press, and licensed for films. His projects have toured the world and shared the stages with many big names in the industry, while Mad Meg even recorded a live album in a Lithuanian prison for women.

For several years, he worked as a project coordinator for Bliss Records, a company which booked US tours for many Eastern European rock acts. He also holds experience as an advertising executive producer, English teacher, project developer for a food supplement company (MTI Medical), and as a copywriter for the Brooklyn Tea Company.

After finishing high school in 2000, Igor was awarded a full 2 year scholarship for his poetry, which he used to earn himself an associate’s degree in web design from Montgomery College, MD, after which he went on to study journalism/public relations at the University of Maryland.

Despite being from the “rock” world, Igor loves all music genres. As he himself is a musician, Igor is extremely sensitive to other musicians’ needs and will stop at nothing to make sure his work brings about results.

Theodore Chaffman, Special Projects Manager at Momentum Artists, New York, blends classical music with global business acumen. At the forefront of the international classical music scene, he plays a pivotal role in driving unique projects and expanding client engagement at Momentum Artists.

After a rigorous stint in analytical and operational roles in the financial sector, Theodore pursued his passion for music with piano studies at The Juilliard School. His experience at Live Klassisk, a music technology startup in Copenhagen, further refined his marketing and promotional strategies, significantly boosting audience engagement and providing deeper insights into the cultural nuances of classical music across borders.

Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations with a minor in Music from American University, Theodore uniquely marries his cross-cultural business insights with his musical passion. He is committed to using music as a powerful tool for fostering understanding and cultural exchange, striving to enhance the visibility of emerging artists and bring their visions to the global stage.

With over fifteen years of website, graphic design and marketing experience, Jeremiah manages Momentum Artists’ online presence.

Graduating in 2004 from Oral Roberts University with a degree in Communications and PR/Advertising, Jeremiah has managed websites and online accounts for clients in industries ranging from book publishing, motivational speakers, hardware stores, dentists, and many trade professionals.

Born in the Washington/Baltimore area, Jeremiah now lives in North Carolina with his wife and four kids. An avid backpacker and guitarist, he spends any remaining free time getting his heart broken by the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles and eating way too much ice cream.