In this episode, I talk with two musicians from very different musical backgrounds – Stéphane Schmalen, a queer alt-violist from Luxembourg who studies classical music, and an anonymous female jazz vocalist.

Despite their contrasting genres, both share strikingly similar experiences navigating the male-dominated world of music, particularly within Codarts and beyond. We explore how gender identity, queerness, and tradition intersect in conservatories and professional environments.

Their stories reveal both subtle and overt forms of inequality – but also resilience, reflection, and a call for more inclusive spaces in music education and performance.

Jolanda en Rocky hebben 40 jaar geleden samen op Codarts gezeten waar ze elkaar hebben leren kennen en inmiddels hebben ze samen een muziekschool Jay`s place geopend in Berschernhoek.