Ari Kanemaki

I am a PhD candidate in Audiocommunication at the Technical University Berlin. I am also a professional freelance viola player and work with different orchestras in Germany.

After realizing that the music industry considers the classical concert to be in crisis, I started to think as a musician and musicologist about what the function of the concert is in our society and why the concert is relevant for our society and for classical music. Why is the concert so special and essential?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, my first piano teacher, who is unable to attend concerts due to a physical disability, told me of her excitement at being able to attend streaming concerts virtually: “How grateful I felt to be able to experience the music being performed for a virtual audience and to be there with others from all over the world.” This comment led me to realize that the concert is perhaps more about interpersonal communication than just music; it is about experiencing the humanity in music. As a result, I am passionate about exploring the human factors in music and the possibility of the (virtual) concert to connect people.

Fortunately, this project involves fantastic musicians and media technicians who are curious about connecting with the audience and are passionate about the possibilities of digital development in concert culture. My mentors for this project are Prof Stefan Weinzierl and Dr Steffen Lepa at the Technical University of Berlin, who not only support this project but also are convinced of the necessity of this research.

October 2023