Joanna Maria Skowrońska is an ethnologist and vocalist specializing in the study and performance of Eastern European traditional music. Her field research, spanning Poland, Ukraine, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, informs her dynamic roles—from conducting comprehensive field recordings to leading enriching workshops and performances with ensembles like Kust, Pieśni Piękne, and Z Lasu. Joanna champions cultural preservation through her work with the Muzyka Zakorzeniona and Ważka Foundations and as the author of pivotal online archives of Polish folk music. Her dedication to maintaining the vitality of traditional music shines through her facilitation of community rituals and her exploration of vocal techniques within the rich tapestry of heritage music.
Joanna is working with Barbara Majnarić to establish Ojkamine, a project selected to be part of the inaugural OneBeat Institute. Ojkamine works to make endangered vocal traditions of Croatia more visible, valued and accessible, with a focus on the UNESCO-designated Ojkanje tradition of singing. Through research, archival work and education, Ojkamine aims to create a ‘living’ access point to these intangible cultural heritages for future generations.
