A new team for new challenges

With Leslie Leon (Head of Master's in Education), Jens Bracher (Head of Master's in Performance) and Luise Tophoff (Head of Administration), we have found competent and committed employees. Leslie is a singer and university lecturer in speech training and communication, Jens is a trumpeter and previously head of a university career center, Luise has experience as a team leader in an international company and a private educational institute. All three proved to be our preferred candidates in an application process and show great enthusiasm for leading the University of Music. After many fulfilling
years at Kalaidos, the now former team is looking forward to being able to observe their commitment from afar.

Why did you apply to the Kalaidos University of Music?

Luise Tophoff (LT) I'm looking forward to working in an innovative environment that moves with the times, in a university of applied sciences that adapts to students' life situations. 

Leslie Leon (LL) I am delighted to be able to contribute my expertise in music practice and university didactics to the Kalaidos University of Music.
set.

Jens Bracher (JB)  After my experience at a music college in northern Germany, I can now work close to where I live and where my children live!

What is important to you in the further development of the university?

JB As a private university, Kalaidos can and must operate differently from public institutions. This means taking a more direct look at the current musical landscape,
must be foreseen in order to
to tailor offers more quickly to the needs of students.

LT Stronger networking with other departments could offer us the opportunity to benefit from and inspire each other. I am also particularly interested in goal-oriented, cooperative teamwork, the continuous deepening of specialist knowledge and high-quality support for students.

How will the conservatoire landscape change? In which areas should conservatoires change in order to meet the requirements of new professional fields, technical developments and generations of students?

LL If we look at global education trends, we can see that the future of learning will be more digital. We will be dealing with topics such as mobile learning, the use of adaptive learning algorithms, personalized learning processes and individual learning journeys, as well as the gamification of learning processes. Nevertheless, I also expect a counter-trend, and this is what makes studying at a music university like Kalaidos so valuable: direct, personal, analog communication, the personal experience of music.

JB The question of the relevance of the music profession will become even more important. Here we will increasingly encourage students to reflect on their
The aim of the program is to invite young people to enter this professional field and to promote an examination of how artists see themselves in society. This goes hand in hand with the mediation and connection of art and an entrepreneurial mindset, which is not a contradiction in terms.
represents.

There has been a lot of talk recently that there are too many music students who don't stand a chance on the job market. Does today's world need fewer artists?

JB I wouldn't say that we are letting too many people go without opportunities, but that  many music students are trained for too few professional fields. We can't educate enough people musically! But we need additional, non-specialist key qualifications that give musicians the opportunity to open up a broader 'market' for themselves.

LL In line with the growing appreciation of the direct and analog, we need more artists who do not remain in the ivory tower of art, but instead make their art tangible.
for a wide variety of people: young and old, with little or a lot of previous education, in different contexts. Art must come to the people - this is how we can make a contribution and increase our fields of activity and thus the demand for art.

What do you think are the biggest challenges for 2024? What are you looking forward to?

JB I am particularly pleased to be able to work in a small team. I'm also looking forward to the contact with students and lecturers. 

LT Meeting the growing demands for greater flexibility and individualization of educational pathways and preparing graduates for social challenges will remain an important topic. I am looking forward to taking on this task and working with the team to help ensure that students can organize their studies with the greatest possible flexibility.

We are very happy that you are now working in the management of the Kalaidos University of Music, that you enable students to study with great flexibility and practical relevance, and we wish you all the best and much success!