Staff

Mina Girgis – Founder and Executive Director – minagirgis@zambaleta.org

Named after the spontaneous chaotic street parties Mina witnessed while growing up in Cairo, Egypt, Zambaleta crystallizes Mina’s passion to cultivate open environments for creative musical expression. Prior to founding Zambaleta in 2009, Mina helped organize a number of cultural festivals including the 2002 Smithsonian SilkRoad Festival in Washington DC and the 2005 Farah El Bahr Festival to inaugurate the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation in Alexandria, Egypt. He has also worked in marketing and product development for companies such as Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Disney Parks and Resorts, and Orascom Hotels & Development. Mina’s research interests include music of the Gypsies and music in Egyptian Sufi Festivals. He has a BSc in hospitality administration and a certificate in world music from Florida State University and an MA in ethnomusicology from the University of California Santa Barbara.