The Beats Across Borders purpose is to build sustainable communities working with original music.
All our projects are built around the creation of new music in a collaboration between untrained young musicians and professional artists.
During a workshop we utilise a mix of collaborative music games and exercises, live music recording and music production and songwriting tools to reach the personal goals of the workshop teachers and participants.
Our overall goal for the project surrounding a workshop is for it to have structural impacts within the community further surrounding each project. We’ve experienced that this is possible by making use of original music to develop common social, political and educational possibilities for all young members of a community.
It’s on the shoulders of these communties to secure a coherent future of its members. They can only do this by encouraging the youth to develop in engaging and resonating environments where they feel like they belong and are allowed to express them selves in every key of life.
We do this because we believe that strong human resonance is our only chance of overcoming the future we created.


Numbers
Active International projects: 5
Nordic projects: 2
Country networks: 12
Music workshop participants: 441 (f/m 75/25)
Age: 6 - 30
Backgrounds: Secondary School, High School, University, Youth Prison, Unaccompanied Young Refugee, Independent Musician, School Teacher, Music Teacher, Development Advisor, Political Advisor
Project managers: 4
Workshop leader trainees: 49 (f/m 75/25)
Age: 17 - 30
Backgrounds: Independent musician, University, High School, Unaccompanied Young Refugee, Music Teacher, School Teacher
Directly derived employments: 15
Accumulated project turnover: $150.000+ (non-profit)
Original songs recorded: 50+
Concerts produced: 49
Workshop days: 55
Concert audiences: 3000+
Performing acts and artists: 150+
Core organisation members: 16
Online content reach: 3mio
Media content reach: BBC, DR, The Lot Radio, The Economist, CNN Philippines, The Guardian, Radio 24/7, Bacolod Daily, Global Nyt, 360grader
Current Projects
Usangi, Tanzania
Youth Center Development
Bacolod, Philippines
Music Education Development
Pristina, Kosovo
Music Workshops
Portland, United Kingdom
Music Workshops
Tsarghkunk, Armenia
Music Education Development
Ixtapaluca, Mexico
Music Education Development
Structure
Daily Management:
Head of Operations
Music Producer, Lecturer and Development Advisor
MA History and Political Science, University of Copenhagen
Kristian Isholm Saarup
Project Manager
Drummer, Music Teacher and Music Manager
BA Drums and Music Pedagogy, Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen
Workshop Leaders:
Music Producer
MA Graduate Political Science, University of Copenhagen
Choir Conductor, the Danish Boys Choir
MA Singing and Music Pedagogy, Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen
Advisory:
Press Officer, the Danish Ministry of Children and Education
MA Journalism, Danish School of Journalism
Deputy Chief, the Danish Ministry of Justice
MSc Economics, University of Copenhagen
Artistic Director, Opera Circus
PhD Graduate Communications & Media, University of Illinois
Senior Graphic Designer, Stereo Associates
MA Visual Communication, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design.
MSc International Security and Law,
University of Southern Denmark
Certified Public Accountant, Piaster Revisorerne