29 April 2025 | Gele Zaal, Royal Conservatoire Antwerp
Initiated by Drs. Georgia Nikolaou (Royal Conservatoire Antwerp - AP / University of Antwerp) & Drs. Tina Reynaert (CESAMM - Academic Chair Jonet / Ghent University)
Supported by: ARIA (University of Antwerp), CORPoREAL - Royal Conservatoire Antwerp (AP), CESAMM (UGent), Academic Chair Jonet and De Singel
Participatory music making has gained a lot of attention in recent years reflecting the importance of access to cultural participation for all members of the society, regardless of their background. At the same time, the number of artists that engage in participatory music projects has been steadily increasing, creating the need for responsive and comprehensive training programs. Research shows that artists that engage in intercultural participatory music practices face multiple challenges such as language barriers, different musical grammars and backgrounds. Besides, they come across other contextual jeopardies that are likely to occur in transient contexts, such as in asylum centers, immigration detention centers and facilities for unaccompanied refugee minors. To overcome these barriers, responsive facilitation and participant-led designs for musical workshops are the main concern for facilitating artists in their quest to create safe spaces and acts of hospitality.
In this research seminar we explore how Embodiment can be implemented as a basic condition for inclusivity within participatory music making and what are the benefits for participants and facilitators. In the context of Music Making, Embodiment refers to the integration of bodily movement and sensory experiences in the dynamic process of learning, creating and performing music. It underscores the pivotal role of the body in shaping our acquisition of knowledge and lived experiences. Importantly, integrating bodily movement transcends mere procedural steps; it becomes a powerful medium for artistic expression. Indeed, this approach overcomes barriers related to instrument availability and it invites individuals without extensive instrumental skills to embark on a collective journey of exploration and experimentation that fosters inclusivity and participation.
Through interactive lectures and practical workshops, the participants of this research seminar will become acquainted with musicking strategies that involve the body and ultimately obtain a basic, hands-on toolkit to accommodate their practices from an embodied perspective. Following the keynote speech by Prof. Ailbhe Kenny on responsive facilitation in refugee accommodations, a first workshop will focus on embodiment through singing and movement in a group. In another workshop facilitating artists will be introduced to soundpainting, a form of collective improvisation. To wrap up the seminar, a panel consisting of the speakers and workshop leaders will synthesize all insights and elaborate further on questions from participants.
Programme
- 09:30 - 10:00 Doors open, registration
- 10:00 - 10:20 Introduction by Drs. Georgia Nicolaou & Drs. Tina Reynaert
- 10:20 - 11:10 Keynote Speech by Prof. Dr. Ailbhe Kenny (Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick)
- 11:10 - 11:30 Coffee break
- 11:30 - 12:30 Workshop 1: Embodiment through Singing and Movement with Andria Antoniou (vocalist – dancer – educator, Voice Hub, London)
- 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch
- 13:30 - 14:30 Workshop 2: Collective Improvisation with Hashem Kabreet (percussionist – workshop leader, Orchestre Partout, Amsterdam)
- 14:30 - 14:45 Coffee Break
- 14:45 - 15:45 Panel discussion: How meaningful is embodiment in intercultural music practices? Moderators: Prof. dr. An De bisschop & Hans van Regenmortel
Information on the speakers
Musicking while Waiting: Music within asylum seeking centres - Keynote Speech by Prof. Ailbhe Kenny
The research I draw from for this presentation is at the beginning of the post-migration phase, where people have left their homes, reached a destination country but are still living in the ‘limbo space’ of seeking refugee status. Narratives are thus nestled within this asylum system where people and families are waiting for a decision on their request for sanctuary. By turning our attention to the socio-musical spaces within the accommodation centre walls, we gain insights into how such spaces are created and negotiated as well as how identities are formed, informed, and potentially transformed while living within and through asylum seeking systems. Essentially, I argue that asylum seeking centres are unique contexts, or new musical worlds, where music is made, embodied and shared.
Prof. Dr. Albhe Kenny is an Associate Professor in Music Education at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland and an Irish Research Council Laureate. She is currently the PI on ‘Music in the Intercultural School: Uncovering Spaces for Agency and Belonging’, a four-year project funded by an Irish Research Council Starting Laureate award. Kenny has led numerous professional development courses for teachers and is actively involved in community projects which include directing the MIC Children's Choir and working in asylum seeker centres (Song Seeking Project).
Embodiment through Singing and Movement – Andria Antoniou
In times of transition, displacement, and cultural adaptation, the voice and body can serve as anchors of identity, grounding us in the present while offering a means of connection and belonging. In this workshop, participants will explore how singing and movement can bypass language barriers, release tension, and foster a sense of inner and collective safety. Through guided breathwork, movement, vocal improvisation, and circle singing, they will experience the power of resonance and shared creativity, creating a space where self-expression and community intertwine.
Led by Finnish-Cypriot vocalist, dancer, and educator Andria Antoniou, this workshop is informed by her ongoing research into the role of voice, breath, and movement in enhancing psychophysiology and emotional well-being. As the founder of Voice Hub in London, Andria is committed to using participatory music-making as a bridge between cultures, helping individuals reclaim their voice, rediscover their agency, and transform their sense of displacement into an act of belonging.
Collective Improvisation through Sound-painting – Hashem Kabreet
Hashem Kabreet is a Syrian-Dutch percussionist, trainer, and workshop leader working in AZCs across the Netherlands. He collaborates with organizations such as Sounds of Change, Raw Resonance, Art Root Collective, Orchestre Partout, and Fort van de Verbeelding.
During our research seminar, he will present an interactive lecture exploring how and why he integrates embodied music activities—such as body percussion, sound walks, and the Kobrani method—into his workshops in AZCs. The session will conclude with a Q&A and a collective moment of reflection.
Practical
- 29 April 2025, 9:30 - 16:00
- Gele Zaal, Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen, Desguinlei 25, 2018 Antwerpen
- This is an English spoken event, free of charge
- Lunch and coffee will be provided.
Registration is required by 22 April 2025
For further information and questions please contact: tina.reynaert@ugent.be or georgia.nikolaou@ap.be
