Petra Sittig

Petra Sittig

This channel is dedicated to raising awareness and showing support for the creative individuals and organizations who are shaping the future of arts and culture. I believe in giving artists a powerful platform to express themselves, share their stories, and showcase their unique perspectives. Through this project, I aim to amplify their voices and highlight the importance of the arts in our society. The arts have played a crucial role in the evolution of humanity, and it's essential to recognize both the artists who have paved the way and those who are creating today. I hope to inspire and educate younger generations about the significance of the arts, especially as they've been increasingly marginalized in our educational systems. Join me in celebrating all forms of art and fostering a deeper understanding of their value in our lives and communities. Let's ensure that arts and culture continue to thrive and remain relevant for future generations.

  1. 2d ago

    The Art Behind the Wine: A Conversation with Renier van Deventer

    Winemaking is both a science and an art. It requires knowledge, precision and an understanding of the elements that shape a wine, but also creativity, intuition and a deep connection to the vineyard. In this interview, I speak with Renier van Deventer of Ridgeback Wines about his journey through the wine industry and the many experiences that have shaped him as a cellar Master and winemaker. After studying Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University, Renier began his career at Neethlingshof Wine Estate and continued his training under acclaimed winemaker Charles Hopkins at De Grendel. His journey then took him beyond South Africa, with harvests in California’s Napa Valley, Western Australia’s Margaret River and New Zealand, where he worked as Assistant Winemaker at Indevin during a record 35,000-ton harvest. Before joining Ridgeback, he was Cellar Master at Leopard’s Leap, working across a diverse portfolio of wines. At Ridgeback Wines, Renier brings this wealth of experience to a farm whose story began with its first white wine in 2000, followed by the five-star award-winning Ridgeback Shiraz in 2001. The name Ridgeback itself comes from the Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs kept on the farm – a breed originally associated with lion hunting and admired for its strength, character and distinctive pedigree. These qualities have become closely connected to the identity of the farm and its red wines. Renier takes us behind the bottle and into the vineyard, explaining how soil, weather, the health of the vines and countless other factors influence the character and quality of the final wine. We talk about the delicate balance between respecting what nature provides and applying the knowledge and skill of the winemaker. Most importantly, we explore that fascinating space where science meets creativity – where technical knowledge becomes something expressive, personal and alive. Renier’s story offers an insight not only into winemaking, but into the patience, passion and craftsmanship behind every bottle. Every artist has a story worth hearing. https://www.ridgebackwines.co.za/about-us/ If you've enjoyed The Artist's Voice, you're invited to support the project through https://buymeacoffee.com/petrasittig Every coffee helps keep meaningful conversations with artists brewing. Thanks for listening, watching, and cheering on the arts! The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ #winemaking #ridgebackwines #artandscience

    The Art Behind the Wine: A Conversation with Renier van Deventer
  2. 6d ago

    Monica Mhangwana: When Opportunity Meets Perseverance

    When I first spoke to South African opera singer Monica Mhangwana in 2022, I was struck by her positive outlook despite the many setbacks she was facing in her career. At the time, she described it as feeling like taking “one step forward and ten steps back.” Little did she know that a new opportunity was about to change the direction of her journey. Monica went on to receive a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in Music at the Musikhochschule Lübeck in Germany, opening the door to new experiences and opportunities on the international stage. Originally from Pretoria, Monica has built a diverse career spanning opera, classical concert works, jazz, pop and African contemporary music, with performances with Cape Town Opera, Johannesburg Opera and Semperoper, as well as tours across Europe and Africa. In this follow-up conversation, I wanted to hear how life had changed for Monica since our first interview — about her new life in Germany, the opportunities she is embracing, and what it means to build a career far from home. We also talked about South Africa, what she misses, and the differences she has discovered between life in Germany and back home. But what struck me once again is not only Monica’s talent and determination, but her genuine willingness to help other singers. In a highly competitive profession, she is generous with her experience and encouragement, offering valuable advice to South African singers who are considering further studies in Europe. Her desire to give back and help others follow their own passion says a great deal about the artist she is. And then there is the joy she brings with her wherever she goes — including the time she taught an audience in northern Germany to sing and dance Pata Pata! It was wonderful to reconnect with Monica and hear how far she has come. Her story is one of perseverance, opportunity, gratitude and generosity — and a reminder that sometimes one step forward can eventually lead somewhere we never expected. Every artist has a story worth hearing. If you've enjoyed The Artist's Voice, you're invited to support the project through https://buymeacoffee.com/petrasittig Every coffee helps keep meaningful conversations with artists brewing. Thanks for listening, watching, and cheering on the arts! The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ #operasingers #southafricanartists #petrasittigtheartistsvoice

    Monica Mhangwana: When Opportunity Meets Perseverance
  3. Aug 10

    Every Guitar Has a Story: Tom River on Music, Life and Creativity

    What happens when a love of music becomes stronger than the career you thought you were meant to have? Australian indie-folk singer-songwriter and producer Tom River, from Margaret River, Western Australia, began his working life in engineering. But music was always there. He started by singing quietly in his room before taking the leap to perform in bars and smaller venues and eventually finding his voice as a songwriter and musician. Best known as one half of the duo Salt Tree, Tom’s solo work is intimate and atmospheric, combining acoustic guitar, airy harmonies and melodic storytelling. Tom has a particular love for guitars and believes that every guitar has its own story. But his curiosity doesn't stop there. He also plays the banjo — simply because he loves the sound of it. He began recording with the banjo and taking it onto the stage, while joking that the instrument can be rather temperamental and has a tendency to go out of tune at exactly the wrong moment. In our conversation, Tom also reflects on the music industry, which he describes as being a little like the Wild West. For an independent artist, there are so many different paths to explore and so many ways to be creative beyond simply writing and performing music. There is the business and financial side, producing and recording, sound engineering, video and photography, social media, visual storytelling and the many other skills that have become part of the modern musician’s world. For Tom, this freedom to explore different creative domains is part of what makes being an artist so exciting. We talk about following your curiosity, finding your own musical voice, and having the courage to build a creative life that doesn't necessarily follow a conventional path. Every artist has a story worth hearing. https://linktr.ee/tomrivermusic If you've enjoyed The Artist's Voice, you're invited to support the project through https://buymeacoffee.com/petrasittig Every coffee helps keep meaningful conversations with artists brewing. Thanks for listening, watching, and cheering on the arts! The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ #indimusic #singersongwriters #petrasittigtheartistsvoice

    Every Guitar Has a Story: Tom River on Music, Life and Creativity
  4. Aug 6

    Sophie Melrose-Doering: Connecting Artists Across Cultures

    Music has an extraordinary ability to bring people together, transcending language, geography, and culture. In this conversation, I speak with Sophie Melrose-Doering, Project Officer for Music and International Artistic Exchange at the Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC), about the remarkable work of creating meaningful connections through music. Sophie has built her career around a passion that has been with her for as long as she can remember. Having promoted artists internationally, organized concerts, contributed to the conception and implementation of the three-day LIDO Sounds Festival as part of its project management team, and working as both artist manager and label for musicians and music projects, she has experienced many sides of the music industry. Combined with her studies in Media and Communication Science and Musicology at the University of Vienna, her work reflects a deep understanding of both the artistic and cultural dimensions of music. During our conversation, Sophie shares how fortunate she feels to have turned her love of music into a career, and why her current role at VIDC is especially meaningful to her. She offers a fascinating look behind the scenes of the international artistic exchange programme, explaining how musicians from around the world are selected and invited to Vienna, where they collaborate with local artists, develop new creative partnerships, and present their work to Austrian audiences. We explore how these exchanges go far beyond performance. They create opportunities for dialogue, mutual learning, and lasting artistic relationships. Sophie explains how the programme seeks artists whose work reflects diverse cultural perspectives while encouraging genuine collaboration rather than simply presenting international acts on a stage. Through workshops, shared performances, and creative exchange, musicians discover common ground despite different backgrounds and traditions. Our conversation also explores the unique role that music can play in building understanding across cultures. Sophie reflects on how audiences in Austria respond to artists from different parts of the world, and how these encounters invite curiosity, empathy, and a deeper appreciation of cultures that may otherwise remain unfamiliar. She believes that music has the power to open conversations, challenge perceptions, and remind us of our shared humanity. This is an inspiring conversation about cultural exchange, the power of collaboration, and the people working behind the scenes to create opportunities where artists—and audiences—can truly connect. Every artist has a story worth hearing. https://www.vidc.org/ueber-das-vidc/das-team/kulturen-in-bewegung If you've enjoyed The Artist's Voice, you're invited to support the project through https://buymeacoffee.com/petrasittig Every coffee helps keep meaningful conversations with artists brewing. Thanks for listening, watching, and cheering on the arts! The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ #artistseries #exchangeprogram #artistinterviews #petrasittigtheartistsvoice

    Sophie Melrose-Doering: Connecting Artists Across Cultures
  5. Aug 3

    Dr. Margaret Chisolm on Art, Medicine, and Human Connection

    Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Margaret Chisolm has dedicated more than three decades to caring for patients, educating future physicians, and advancing humanistic medical practice. In this thought-provoking conversation, she shares how art museums have become an unexpected but powerful classroom for medical students. As Director of the Paul McHugh Program for Human Flourishing and a certified Visual Thinking Strategies facilitator, Dr. Chisolm uses works of art to help students develop skills that are fundamental to compassionate healthcare. Together we explore how carefully observing and discussing art teaches future doctors to distinguish between observation and interpretation—an essential ability in medicine, particularly in psychiatry, where assumptions can easily influence diagnosis and care. Our conversation also explores the importance of reflection. Hospitals are filled with powerful life-and-death experiences, yet without time to process and discuss them, those experiences do not necessarily lead to personal or professional growth. In the museum setting, students find a safe space to reflect, share different perspectives, and deepen their understanding of themselves and others. Dr. Chisolm's work beautifully demonstrates that medicine is far more than science alone. Art cultivates empathy, curiosity, humility, careful observation, and meaningful human connection—qualities that benefit not only physicians but every patient they encounter. Her vision reminds us that the humanities are not an optional addition to medicine but an essential part of understanding what it means to care for another human being. This inspiring conversation is a powerful reminder that when science and art work together, they create better doctors, stronger human connections, and ultimately, better healthcare. Every artist has a story worth hearing. If you've enjoyed The Artist's Voice, you're invited to support the project through Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/petrasittig Every coffee helps keep meaningful conversations with artists brewing. Thanks for listening, watching, and cheering on the arts! The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ #artandscience #medicaleducation #artgallery #petrasittigtheartistsvoice

    Dr. Margaret Chisolm on Art, Medicine, and Human Connection
  6. Jul 30

    Jonas Krause: When Teaching Becomes the Calling

    For many young musicians, the dream is to perform on the world's greatest stages. But what happens when you discover your greatest passion lies somewhere else? In this episode of The Artist's Voice, I speak with trumpeter and music educator Jonas Krause about finding the courage to redefine success. Having discovered his love for the trumpet as a child, Jonas pursued an intensive musical education before studying at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK). Along the way, he realised that while he enjoyed performing, it wasn't where he could make his greatest contribution. Instead, he found his true calling in teaching. Jonas shares why inspiring the next generation of musicians can be just as rewarding as life on the concert stage. He believes that great teaching is not about creating copies of the teacher, but about helping students become confident, independent musicians who discover and develop their own unique musical voice. We also discuss his time in Vienna as an Erasmus student at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw). He reflects on the invaluable experience of studying abroad, the different perspectives he encountered, and how living and learning in another country broadened both his musical and personal horizons. This conversation is a thoughtful reminder that a career in music offers many fulfilling paths, and that success is ultimately about finding the place where your talents, passion, and purpose come together. Every artist has a story worth hearing. If you've enjoyed The Artist's Voice, you're invited to support the project through Buy Me a Coffee. https://buymeacoffee.com/petrasittig Every coffee helps keep meaningful conversations with artists brewing. Thanks for listening, watching, and cheering on the arts! The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

    Jonas Krause: When Teaching Becomes the Calling
  7. Jul 27

    When Music Becomes Self-Discovery | Nick Anthony

    Some artists write songs to entertain. Others write songs to understand themselves—and, in doing so, help others understand themselves too. In this episode of The Artist's Voice, I had the pleasure of speaking with emerging singer-songwriter Nick Anthony, whose thoughtful songwriting invites listeners to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters. Born and raised in Majorca, Nick's path into music was anything but conventional. Although he learned to play the guitar as a young boy, he never imagined music would become his career. At just fifteen years old, he left school and began working as a magician, entertaining audiences long before he ever stood on stage with a guitar in his hands. It was only through a period of deep personal reflection that everything began to change. Asking himself difficult questions about who he was, what he was doing, and what truly mattered led him to songwriting. Those moments of honesty became the foundation of songs such as Changes, Life Is What You Make It, Time, and Keep Walking—songs that are not only beautifully melodic but carry messages that encourage us to pause, think, and look inward. "I think we feel lost because we don't take enough time to reflect," Nick shares during our conversation. It is a belief that resonates throughout his music. His songs remind us that life often moves too quickly, and that taking the time to examine our thoughts, choices, and emotions can lead us towards a more meaningful and authentic life. There is a quiet power in Nick's songwriting. His melodies may seem simple on the surface, but they create space for the lyrics to speak directly to the listener. Rather than telling us what to think, they gently invite us to ask our own questions. In a world filled with constant noise and distraction, his music offers something increasingly rare: a moment of stillness. It encourages us to reflect on where we've been, where we're going, and who we want to become. This was a wonderful conversation about finding purpose, embracing change, and discovering that some of life's greatest answers come when we simply allow ourselves the time to listen—to ourselves and to the stories we carry within. Every artist has a story worth hearing. If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support my work https://buymeacoffee.com/petrasittig The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

    When Music Becomes Self-Discovery | Nick Anthony
  8. Jul 23

    Connecting People Through Music: A Conversation with Sebastian Perłowski

    There is something deeply inspiring about speaking with artists who understand that music is about far more than notes on a page. In this conversation, I had the pleasure of talking with internationally acclaimed conductor and composer Sebastian Perłowski, whose philosophy is beautifully summed up in his words: "To connect people through music and music through people." A laureate of numerous prestigious international conducting competitions, Sebastian has built an impressive career working with leading orchestras across Europe and Asia. Renowned for his dynamic artistic vision and versatility across both the symphonic and operatic repertoire, he brings not only exceptional musical expertise to the podium but also a profound understanding of the human relationships that make great performances possible. Our conversation explores the unique chemistry between a conductor and an orchestra, a relationship founded on trust, mutual respect, and shared purpose. Sebastian explains that conducting is never about authority alone, but about creating an environment where musicians feel inspired to give their very best. It is this invisible connection that transforms individual performers into a unified artistic voice. We also discuss the conductor's role as a bridge between the orchestra and the audience. Through every gesture, expression, and movement, a conductor communicates the emotion, character, and story of the music, allowing listeners to experience a deeper connection with each performance. For Sebastian, conducting is a language without words, where every movement has meaning and every gesture serves the music. One of the most delightful moments in our conversation is when Sebastian reflects on his childhood dream of becoming a drummer. With his wonderful sense of humour, he jokes that he began his musical journey playing with two sticks, but eventually had to give one up in order to become a conductor. Behind the joke lies a lifelong passion for rhythm, musical expression, and an unwavering dedication to his craft. Sebastian also shares his deep admiration for the legendary conductors who came before him, acknowledging the influence they continue to have on his own artistic development. His respect for musical tradition is evident, while his own interpretations bring fresh energy and insight to every score he conducts. Adding another fascinating glimpse into his world is the remarkable collection of CD's and scores visible behind him throughout our interview. More than simply a backdrop, this extensive library reflects a lifetime of study, curiosity, and devotion to music, a testament to an artist who never stops learning and discovering. This conversation is a thoughtful exploration of leadership, collaboration, humility, and the extraordinary power of music to unite people across cultures and generations. Whether you are a musician, a lover of classical music, or simply curious about the artistry behind the podium, Sebastian offers a captivating perspective on what it truly means to bring music to life. Every artist has a story worth hearing. https://sebastianperlowski.framer.website The Inspiration by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

    Connecting People Through Music: A Conversation with Sebastian Perłowski

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About

This channel is dedicated to raising awareness and showing support for the creative individuals and organizations who are shaping the future of arts and culture. I believe in giving artists a powerful platform to express themselves, share their stories, and showcase their unique perspectives. Through this project, I aim to amplify their voices and highlight the importance of the arts in our society. The arts have played a crucial role in the evolution of humanity, and it's essential to recognize both the artists who have paved the way and those who are creating today. I hope to inspire and educate younger generations about the significance of the arts, especially as they've been increasingly marginalized in our educational systems. Join me in celebrating all forms of art and fostering a deeper understanding of their value in our lives and communities. Let's ensure that arts and culture continue to thrive and remain relevant for future generations.