Students at the Heart of IN.TUNE: Active Voices in Alliance Developments

At IN.TUNE, students are more than participants - they are key voices in shaping the alliance. Their perspectives, ideas, and experiences are embedded at every level, ensuring that the initiatives and direction of IN.TUNE truly reflect their needs and aspirations. From governance to innovative educational approaches, here are some examples of how students are actively crafting the future of IN.TUNE and music & arts higher education.

Students in Governance: Making Decisions That Matter

A strong student presence in governance is at the core of IN.TUNE’s commitment to inclusivity and student-centered approach. The Student Council, with two representatives from each partner institution, plays a vital role in advocating for student interests and ensuring that their voices are heard. But student involvement goes beyond representation – one-third of the seats on the Governing Board are held by students, with equal voting rights, making them active decision-makers in the alliance’s direction and priorities.

For students, this is more than a seat at the table – it’s a real opportunity to create the future.

Students of the Norwegian Academy of Music Oslo share their thoughts on being part of IN.TUNE:
💬 “The incredible opportunities that exist through IN.TUNE are for us, so it’s so important to get involved,” says Elise Sløgedal, a jazz singing master’s student.

💬 Lucie Lou Camps, a conducting student, highlights the connections made through the Student Council: “It’s a great way to engage with different institutions. And it’s nice to see that music students in other countries have exactly the same struggles as we do here.”

Beyond Governance: Engaging in alliance activities and creating opportunities

IN.TUNE is constantly creating new opportunities for students that go beyond governance also as practical, hands-on experiences. A key focus is connecting students across the continent, giving them the chance to work with their peers and professionals, and offering them diverse experiences that will prepare them for careers in music and the arts.

One example is connecting through real-time audio and video systems for low-latency distance music performances, a cutting-edge initiative in digital collaboration. Students like Sara de los Campos Valdés, a vocal studies student from The Hague, and Emanuela Ionita, a piano student from Bucharest, recently had the chance to explore this technology.

💬 “It was amazing to see how well we could shape dynamics, tempo, and phrasing, making it feel almost like a live rehearsal,” Sara shared. “This system doesn’t replace in-person practice, but it opens the door to exciting possibilities: masterclasses with specialists, rehearsals for future projects, high-quality recordings, and most importantly, meeting other students across Europe and exchanging through musical practice. It showed me how technology can help musicians collaborate in new ways—some of which we are still discovering.”

Beyond digital projects, IN.TUNE actively encourages student engagement in educational innovation. The Call for Proposals for Innovative Educational Formats invited students to contribute directly – whether by incorporating their perspectives into proposals for new joint educational formats, or by co-developing proposals in student-teacher tandems.

Students in Thematic Work Groups: Bringing New Perspectives to Decision-Making

Student involvement in IN.TUNE extends further – each thematic work package committee includes a student representative, ensuring that mobility, innovation in education, research and professional development, outreach to professional and wider society, and other key initiatives are driven by as well by student experiences and priorities.

Katri Keskinen, a doctoral student in music education from Helsinki, described her role in the committee dealing with social engagement and sustainable carreers, as bringing a fresh, critical perspective to discussions, challenging conventional administrative and academic viewpoints, and advocating for more direct student involvement in shaping future projects.

💬 “For me, the key role is to challenge traditional ways of thinking, recognizing that the professional world is changing. It’s about seeing opportunities to involve students more in shaping future projects and ensuring that decisions made today truly serve the needs of tomorrow’s musicians.”

By taking on these roles, students gain leadership experience, engage in meaningful decision-making, and prepare themselves for future positions in cultural and institutional leadership. Their active involvement makes IN.TUNE a stronger, more inclusive, and truly responsive alliance, bringing a future where student perspectives are not only included – but essential.