"Complex questions stimulate me"

Xavier Dayer, new Director of the Department of Music at ZHdK, in conversation with his predecessor.

Xavier Dayer, it is no longer a matter of course that artistic careers lead to leadership and management. What led you down this path?
I have a varied CV. As a composer, I was commissioned early on and have written a lot for ensembles and orchestras since the 1990s. At the age of 25, I became a theory lecturer, taught in various places and finally became head of the study program and lecturer for composition at the HKB. I once studied classical guitar and my relationship with the instrument still means a lot to me. I have been President of the SUISA Board since 2011 and have become familiar with management and its legal challenges, market issues and internationalization. It is intellectually stimulating to seek solutions with different personalities and to reach agreements that are not comfortable but sustainable. Complex questions stimulate me. Composing, on the other hand, remains an artistic pursuit that is entirely my own responsibility. 

Management means creating a framework in which employees can work well.
Exactly. Management is not an artistic task, but should enable the success of many interests. And I have great faith in the art school model. I am convinced that in a young generation, the creation and "consumption" of music is more and more connected to other arts, while detached music often has to be defended and communicated. But perhaps even traditional concerts are suddenly acting like a "dopamine detox" again! The art academy is the right place to think about this. 

The world of higher education is challenged by technological innovations and social changes, while at the same time its effectiveness is based on continuity.
Topics such as artificial intelligence are explosive for universities, in a positive sense. AI will take over much of what we have previously attributed to human creativity. This raises big legal, ethical and economic questions. Sometimes I think we should speak of "universal plundering" rather than AI, as a few profit companies are appropriating the entire world culture. All the more we will understand more and more the importance of human transmission. Qualities such as personality, stage presence, etc. will become more valuable. We need to occupy the land that cannot be used by these companies. 

Nevertheless, you have to explain more and more, what music academies do - even to people in the art world who know little about it...
Yes, I know this Sisyphus feeling, there is a trivialization of public opinion. It's just part of the job to mediate and leave the bubbles. But we must never forget that the most important thing happens at the level of teaching. Studying is like photosynthesis between lecturers and students. We all have
Memories of key moments during my studies. These happened in the learning contact, in the
Work on the matter at hand, not in meeting rooms. 

And what do you expect from the Conference of Swiss Music Universities?
It is an opportunity to look beyond one's own university circle, to discuss priorities together - and to become clear about terms such as "excellence" in the sense of an ambitious but broad understanding of quality. And thanks to its collegiality, it can shape the inevitable competition between institutions in a constructive and stimulating way.

What are you looking forward to?
To the people, to contacts, to exciting colleagues in teaching, art and research. I see great things and am very curious. It's a great pleasure to be part of this ZHdK adventure.