Trio Animato (Poland)
The harmonica ensemble Animato was founded in Szczecin by Jerzy Grzesiukiewicz in 1978. Since 1992, the ensemble has consisted of three members, all playing different harmonicas: Marek Jaroszyński (chromatic), Piotr Bieliński (chord harmonica), and Piotr Włodarczyk (bass harmonica). The ensemble is a laureate of Polish and international harmonica competitions. In 1996, they achieved second place at the European Harmonica Festival in Trossingen, Germany. In 1997, Animato won the first prize and the World Champion title for an outstanding performance at the World Harmonica Festival in the same city. Since then, they have no longer participated in harmonica competitions but have been invited as guests to perform at various music festivals in Poland and abroad, including in Estonia.
From the beginning, Animato has worked towards popularizing the harmonica, showcasing the different playing techniques and sonic nuances that this interesting and refined instrument allows. In their numerous concerts at home and abroad, they have sought to demonstrate that the harmonica has almost limitless possibilities, enabling them to successfully play all kinds of music. The ensemble’s repertoire includes their own arrangements of different types of music, including popular classical music pieces, jazz and swing standards, world hits of pop music, as well as shanties and folk music from around the world. Animato has recorded 4 CDs with diverse music, including their newest album titled “Sunday Millionaires.”
Dennis McMasters (USA)
Growing up in Weirton, West Virginia, Dennis’s musical journey is a testament to the rich tapestry of the American soundscape. Inspired by vocalists like Steve Marriott, Robert Plant, and Steven Tyler, Dennis found his true calling in the blues. At just 15 years old, he delved into the mysteries of the harmonica, mastering the styles of legends such as Junior Wells, Magic Dick, and Little Walter—artists who paved the way from acoustic Delta Blues to the raw energy of Chicago Blues.
After college, Dennis moved to Chicago, where he formed his first blues-rock band, Almost Brothers. His band performed near Chicago and at festivals like Rockfest and Summerfest in Wisconsin. Dennis then decided to move to the Los Angeles area, a hub of diverse musical tastes. His new band, Manroot, performed their blues-infused hard rock all over California and recorded an album of Dennis’s original songs and covers.
Dennis has now settled in the beautiful mountains of Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where he continues to perform for visitors from around the world with his two bands: the blues-based Mudd Bonz and the classic rock-based Off Piste. In 2005, Dennis discovered the Pärnu Harmonica Festival while searching online. He decided to fly to Estonia, met the festival organizers, felt right at home, and has participated in the festival for 11 years. Now, he’s back again and looks forward to meeting audience once more.
https://www.facebook.com/DennisMcMastersMusic/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqLceFbX5-M&ab_channel=RootsArt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ozKl-z6VLE&ab_channel=Skijunky55
Duo MACATS (Latvia)
Raimonds Macats (born in 1961) is one of most important Latvian musicians from his generation! He has been produced many recordings in Latvian national music scene and has played with many important musicians in the Baltic music scene. He is a composer arranger and Mult instrumentalist, he plays cello and keyboards, and he is self-thought in harmonica music! In Estonia he is well known with jazz musicians Villu Veski, Tiit Kalluste and band “Sounds of Nordic Islands”
Rudolfs Macats (1988) is going into his father’s steps. I studied in Amsterdam with Karel Boehlee who was one of the legendary harmonica player Toots Thielemans pianists. And later in Copenhagen Rudolfs finished master’s degree in improvisation and composition. Where he studied with legendary russian pianist Misha Alperin and legendary danish pianist Carsten Dahl.
Yip Tsz Chung, Matthew (Hong Kong SAR)
Yip graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist University, majoring in saxophone. He studied harmonica under Mr. Lee Sheung-ching and Mr. Yasuo Watani, and has participated in numerous Asia Pacific Harmonica Festivals and the World Harmonica Festivals in Germany since 2006.
At the Seoul International Harmonica Festival 2018, he won the Champion in the adult chromatic harmonica solo and, due to his outstanding performance, also claimed the overall championship, receiving the “Mayor of Seoul Prize.” In 2025, he travelled to Trossingen, Germany, again to participate in the World Harmonica Festival, where he won the Champion in the chromatic harmonica solo (with test piece), which is regarded as the highest-level contest in the world.
He formed a harmonica ensemble, RedBricks Harmonica, in 2015, performing and exchanging experiences in places such as the United States, Russia, Bahrain, South Korea, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
In terms of teaching, Yip is actively involved in harmonica education, serving as a harmonica class instructor at his alma mater, King’s College. Since 2021, Yip has been the conductor and elite team instructor of the harmonica band at the King’s College Old Boys’ Association Primary School, guiding the team to achieve three champions, two runners-up, and one third place at the Seoul International Harmonica Festival 2023. At the 76th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, he conducted the school’s harmonica band to win the championship in the primary category and assisted the St. Paul’s Co-educational College harmonica orchestra in securing the runner-up and third place in the harmonica band class and harmonica ensemble class respectively. In 2013, he obtained the ATCL music diploma from the Trinity College London for saxophone.