Interview: “We need new alliances for music”
We spoke to the new President of the DMR, Prof. Lydia Grün, about why she wants to strengthen music as a “force for society”. The pressure on music education is growing, and new alliances are needed, she says. She also makes it clear what matters most now: greater participation and a stronger integration of music into all areas of life.
GVL: What are your key priorities as the new President of the German Music Council?
Prof. Lydia Grün: Music needs strong voices – it was with this vision that I stood for the role of President. In this sense, I see myself as a networker, a facilitator and, in close collaboration with all our members, a communicator. Strengthening music as a “force for society” is our core task as the German Music Council (DMR). We also explore this in depth in our latest publication, “What does our democracy sound like?”. For me, the foundation for this is music education, which is currently under immense pressure. We therefore need strong, and indeed new, alliances for music. I would like to make the German Music Council more inclusive and thus strive to fulfil its mission of representing all musicians and music creators in Germany. That is why, as an umbrella organisation, we must be more proactive in inviting people, integrate the diverse experiences of individuals from different backgrounds and life stories more effectively, and engage in open dialogue and mutual learning.
What motivates you personally most about your new role?
I can clearly sense the spirit of optimism within the German Music Council at the moment, and this will intensify further with the upcoming appointment of around 200 volunteers to our federal specialist committees and project advisory boards. The collaboration between the newly elected Presidium, the General Secretariat and the project company is also opening up exciting new opportunities for creativity. As President of DMR e.V. and Chair of the Supervisory Board of DMR gGmbH, I see enormous potential in our structure: the German Music Council’s projects based in Bonn are the ‘musical ambassadors’ that bring the music policy objectives developed by our General Secretariat to life. This close integration is unique worldwide.
Which developments in music culture are currently causing you the greatest concern?
The findings of the MiKADO Music Study, presented in November 2025, are a wake-up call: the severe shortage of qualified music education staff is leading to an erosion of music education throughout Germany, which we must vehemently counteract. Our goal remains equitable participation and equal opportunities for all children and young people in the world of music.
At the same time, the music world faces massive upheavals and challenges – from dealing with artificial intelligence and the associated copyright issues to the precarious living conditions of freelance musicians. These issues cannot be viewed in isolation: They require networked thinking and action. This is precisely where the strength of the German Music Council lies. The diverse expertise of our members provides an important foundation not only for accompanying and reflecting on these complex developments, but also for actively shaping them in a spirit of solidarity.
What is needed to make music a more natural part of all areas of life again – from school to everyday life?
We need spaces for musical encounters – wherever people come together: in nurseries and schools, in music clubs and religious contexts, and also in care homes and day care centres. In an age increasingly characterised by digital ‘bubbles’ and growing loneliness, musical life offers a unique opportunity for social cohesion: Making music together brings joy, strengthens the community and, incidentally, helps us develop our ability to resolve conflicts. Music is also a valuable resource for mental and physical health. To fully realise this potential, genuine appreciation and appropriate conditions are required. As the German Music Council, we are strongly advocating for this with politicians and civil society.