With this series, we bring together the experiences and perspectives of women and non-binary people in the music business. In 2025, we take a look behind the scenes and focus on the people beside the musicians. Regardless of quotas, so-called categories or classifications, it takes 100% of us to stand up for feminism to have the greatest impact.
Did you have any role models around you that you could look up to?
Sidonie Forstreiter: My first role models within the industry were Sven Hartberger and Peter Paul Kainrath. They gave me a lot of things (especially “the trade”) along the way. I still have a close and trusting relationship with the latter; I would even describe him as a mentor. I hope he agrees with this description. I wish we all had someone like that, preferably even several of them.
One person (of many that I could list) who is very inspiring for me as a role model is Julia Neupert, who works at SWR. She has incredible expertise in jazz and the (rare) ability to tell really in-depth and relevant music stories. For me, her work is a powerful example of how expertise and passion can not only advance your own career, but also have a real impact on the scene. Her work is an important contribution to the visibility and representation of women in the music industry. – Her series “Jazz-Frauen | Wegbereiterinnen im Off”, together with Franziska Buhre, is highly recommendable and was awarded the German Jazz Prize in 2023.
But what is at least as important – apart from these “role models” that you look up to a little – is the exchange in peer groups. I’m very lucky to have people like Wiktoria Pelzer (head of Stadtkino & Admiralkino) and other smart women around me who don’t work directly in the same company. They are taking a serious look at how they can act as leaders and find their own language; cultivating a new way of dealing with things – on a small and large scale. The exchange with them and the mutual reminder to discard learned patterns of behavior and replace them with conscious, self-empowering actions is sooo valuable.
“I ask myself almost constantly how to not just act in a ‘masculine’ way in my male-dominated environment while still finding a common language with those who (still) set the tone”
What were your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
Sidonie Forstreiter: After all the unspeakable internships, especially in the classical music industry – festivals are often produced with the underpaid work of so-called “bees”, i.e. young, committed women who diligently fill their CVs and conscientiously work through every absurd activity so that the thing can then get off the ground – finally arriving in a working environment that offers stability and learning opportunities was the first big step. Reflecting and learning from my superiors was a retrospective process that prepared me for the next challenge, namely the “rethinking” I briefly described earlier. This rethinking is quite a lot of work, as almost all of us (at least that was the case in my professional history) start out working in a male-dominated environment. To be honest, it is an ongoing challenge.
In my new role as artistic director, I ask myself almost constantly how to not just act in a “masculine” way in my male-dominated environment while still finding a common language with those who (still) set the tone. How to remain true to my own approach, even though as a woman you are so often accused of being “too friendly”, too “cautious”.
At this point, I recommend that everyone reads Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. In contrast to the supposed way of dealing with your employees, business partners and colleagues, which is supposedly necessary to lead “correctly” and “strongly”, you will learn timeless principles for authentic and sustainable communication.
How can women and non-males support each other and promote solidarity in their professional environment? What can you pass onto the next generation?
Sidonie Forstreiter: Some things are already happening. The European festival landscape in the field of contemporary music is slowly transforming. There are occasional opportunities for informal exchange. I hope that this will become established and really grow into a stable network over the years.
I’m 35 and don’t quite see myself as being called to pass something on to the “next” generation. Perhaps I would like to appeal to my own generation: let’s develop new strategies, not copy the ones that have been practiced for decades and put them in a different guise. And to the generation before me: let’s learn from you!
Sidonie Forstreiter has been artistic director of the Studio Dan ensemble since 2022.
Transalted from the German original by Arianna Alfreds.