Žak Ozmo

For Žak Ozmo, music is more than an art—it is a force of transformation, a bridge between cultures, and a testament to human resilience. A visionary music director, conductor, and specialist in early plucked instruments, he has dedicated his career to reviving forgotten musical traditions, uncovering their global connections, and redefining early music for the modern age.

As Founder and Artistic Director of L’Avventura London, Ozmo leads an internationally acclaimed ensemble celebrated for performances that combine historical depth with contemporary relevance.

Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ozmo’s journey to the world stage was shaped by extraordinary circumstances. As a war refugee in the 1990s, he was the only member of his immediate family to escape the devastation of civil war—an experience that deepened his belief in music as a source of survival, identity, and healing.

“Music reminds us of who we are,” he reflects. “It helps us persevere, overcome, and ultimately, transcend.”

That conviction fuels his lifelong exploration of music’s power to unite across time and cultures.

With L’Avventura London, Ozmo has built a pioneering ensemble that unites sounds and stories from across continents, redefining early music as a truly global art form. Guided by his bold and imaginative programming, he has expanded the horizons of what early music can be—taking audiences on journeys that cross centuries and cultures. This vision has brought L’Avventura London to some of the world’s most celebrated stages, including the Kölner Philharmonie, Grande Auditório Calouste Gulbenkian, and Queen’s Hall, with performances featured on BBC Radio 3, NPR, and other major international media.

As a performer, Ozmo is renowned for his mastery of historical plucked instruments, including the archlute, theorbo, Renaissance lute, and Baroque guitar. He appears internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, and continuo player across Europe, North America, and Asia. His acclaimed recordings on Opella Nova and Hyperion Records have been praised for their depth, imagination, and virtuosity – Gramophone commended his “searching intellect and wry imagination … beautiful, fluent playing,” while Classical Music Magazine described him as “an expert on early plucked instruments.”

Beyond the stage, Ozmo is a leading figure in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of music, neuroscience, and health. He holds faculty appointments at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (London), Rhodes College, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis), where he leads pioneering studies in neuroaesthetics—the science of how music and the arts shape the brain, health, and human behavior. As Founder of the Ozmo Institute for Neuroaesthetics, he spearheads innovative initiatives exploring the role of the arts in healthcare, education, and social transformation.

A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Ozmo has presented at major international conferences, delivered a TEDx Talk, and contributed to scholarly publications translated into multiple languages. A frequent guest on BBC Radio 3, NPR, and other media outlets, he continues to engage global audiences in conversations about music’s power to heal, connect, and inspire.

For Žak Ozmo, music is not confined to the past—it is a living language that speaks powerfully to the present and shapes the future. Through his work as music director, conductor, performer, and scholar, he bridges centuries, revealing how music from any era can illuminate the world we live in today and inspire what comes next.