Žak Ozmo

For Žak Ozmo, music is more than an art form: it is a force for transformation, a bridge between cultures, and a testament to human resilience. As an internationally recognised music director, conductor, and specialist in early plucked instruments, he has dedicated his career to reviving forgotten musical traditions, uncovering their global connections, and rethinking early music for the present day.

As Founder and Artistic Director of L’Avventura London, Ozmo leads an internationally acclaimed ensemble known 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.”

With L’Avventura London, Ozmo has built a distinctive ensemble that brings together sounds and stories from across continents, expanding early music into a more global art form. Through imaginative and carefully researched programming, he has broadened the scope of what early music can be—taking audiences on journeys that cross centuries and cultures. This work has brought L’Avventura London to leading international 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 known for his expertise in 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 recordings on Opella Nova and Hyperion Records have been praised for their depth and imagination—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 research in neuroaesthetics—the study of how music and the arts shape the brain, health, and human behaviour. As Founder of the Ozmo Institute for Neuroaesthetics, he develops initiatives exploring the role of the arts in healthcare, education, and community life.

A sought-after speaker, Ozmo has presented at 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, early and classical music are not confined to the past—they are living languages that speak to the present and shape 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.