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. 1d ago

    What If Mozart Had One More Masterpiece? David K. Israel’s The Lost Mozart

    It was lovely catching up with David K. Israel again, and this time our conversation took us away from music and into the world of his latest novel, The Lost Mozart, published by Regalo Press in August 2026. David is a novelist, essayist, composer and screenwriter who has spent more than three decades telling stories through words, music and film. His work as a composer has brought him into the world of dance, with commissioned scores performed by Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp and the New York City Ballet. As a writer, his first novel, Behind Everyman, was published by Random House and translated internationally. In our conversation, David gives us a glimpse into The Lost Mozart, a novel set in 1987 about Noah Wideman, a young college music student who discovers what appears to be a long-lost, unfinished string quartet by Mozart. With the help of Eos, a brilliant fellow student, and an unexpected circle of older music lovers, Noah sets out to complete the piece and bring it to the world in a story that weaves together music, friendship, ambition and second chances. Knowing David as both a composer and a writer, I love the idea of these two worlds coming together in a novel where music itself becomes the heart of the story. We also spoke about the devastating Los Angeles fires and how this experience affected David and the community around him. Beyond the physical destruction, events like these leave their mark on people's lives, their sense of home and their connection to the places and people they love. It was an important reminder of how deeply our surroundings shape us, and how communities come together in difficult times. It was such a pleasure to reconnect with David and hear about this new chapter in his creative life. I hope his wish for The Lost Mozart to be translated into German comes true, and that the book finds its way to Vienna and readers around the world. It would be wonderful to see his story travel across languages and borders, bringing new readers into the world he has created. Every artist has a story worth hearing. https://www.davidkisrael.me 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/

    What If Mozart Had One More Masterpiece? David K. Israel’s The Lost Mozart
  2. 4d ago

    Phinda Kabini: Telling His Community’s Story Through Art

    Phinda Kabini is a young, self-taught artist from South Africa who is determined to follow his passion for art, despite the challenges he faces. In our conversation, Phinda shares the people who have inspired him on his journey and how a lack of art materials meant that he began with pencil drawings before eventually receiving paints that allowed him to experiment with acrylics and oils. His paintings tell the stories of his community, with colours that reflect the rich artistic traditions of the Ndebele people. Through his work, Phinda gives us a glimpse into a culture and a way of life that we might otherwise never have the opportunity to discover. I find it wonderful to see young artists using their creativity to preserve and share the stories of their communities. Phinda also speaks openly about the lack of support available to young artists in his community. I admire his determination to keep learning and developing his skills, even when the resources and encouragement are limited. What makes his journey even more meaningful is his desire to inspire other young people. He understands that art can offer young people a sense of purpose, something positive to focus on, and an opportunity to discover their own potential. I hope Phinda will find the support, guidance and inspiration he needs to continue growing as an artist. His story is a reminder of how much talent exists in communities where opportunities are not always easy to find, and how important it is to give young artists the chance to be seen, heard and encouraged. Every artist has a story worth hearing, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to hear Phinda's. 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/

    Phinda Kabini: Telling His Community’s Story Through Art
  3. Oct 22

    Manuel Ortiz Babiloni: Shaping Silence into Sound

    What does it mean to be a pianist, and what is the responsibility of a musician towards an audience? These are some of the questions I explored in my conversation with Manuel Ortiz Babiloni, a young Spanish pianist currently studying at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK). Born in Castellón, Spain, Manuel grew up in an artistic family. His mother, Elvira Babiloni, is a concert pianist and teacher, his father is a painter, and his sister is a dancer. Music was part of his life from the beginning, and it was his mother who guided him on his journey to becoming a pianist. Manuel speaks openly about what it was like to be taught by his own mother, right up to conservatoire level. She was strict, but he understands today that her high expectations came from knowing what was needed to develop as a musician. Her advice continues to guide him. We also talk about ATELIER, his latest recording, which he made together with his mother and pianist Francisco Escoda, and his experience of working with living composers. For Manuel, performing their music offers a special opportunity to understand the intentions behind a work and to discover the thoughts and ideas that shaped it. One of the things that stayed with me from our conversation was Manuel's understanding of the relationship between a musician and an audience. Whether playing for a friend or performing in a concert hall, he believes that the most important thing is to create a connection and bring the music to the listener. Music is fleeting. Unlike a book, whose words remain on the page, music has to be created again and again, through sound, in every performance. As Manuel beautifully puts it, it is about “shaping silence into sound.” Looking towards the future, Manuel is also considering studying conducting. He sees it as a way to deepen his understanding of music, explore works from a different perspective, and discover how to shape sound on a larger scale through an orchestra, bringing together many individual musicians to create a shared musical experience. It was a pleasure talking to this thoughtful young musician. What impressed me most was his understanding that being an artist is about more than mastering an instrument. It is also about communicating, listening, and taking responsibility for the experience we create for others. Because, in the end, music only truly comes alive when it reaches someone. The Artist’s Voice – 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/

    Manuel Ortiz Babiloni: Shaping Silence into Sound
  4. Oct 19

    Anina Deetlefs: The Architecture of Quiet Things | Seeing Beauty in the Unseen

    In this conversation, I speak with South African artist Anina Deetlefs about her latest body of work, The Architecture of Quiet Things, presented at Art@Africa Gallery in Cape Town. Anina has spent many years painting flowers. But while looking more closely at the flowers she was painting, she discovered another world hidden within them. Beneath their familiar beauty is an intricate universe of cells, structures and processes that we rarely see or even think about. This discovery became the starting point for a completely new body of work. Anina talks about how humbling it is to realise just how much is happening at a cellular level, quietly sustaining life all around us. Her paintings invite us to slow down and look again, revealing beauty in the things that normally remain invisible to us. We also talk about moss, one of the most easily overlooked plants in our environment. Anina’s curiosity led her to explore the science and extraordinary qualities of these tiny organisms, and then to translate what she discovered into art. I love the way she allows research and curiosity to open new doors in her artistic practice. Our conversation also moves beyond her current exhibition. We talk about the importance of the arts in education and about how meaningful it is for Anina to hear from art students who have been inspired by her work. For her, being an artist is not simply about creating paintings. It is also about continuing to learn, to question, to grow and, perhaps, to inspire someone else along the way. I love Anina’s work, but I also love the way she looks at the world. There is a wonderful sense of curiosity in her artistic outlook and a real belief in her own growth as an artist. She is not afraid to explore something new, to follow a question, to learn about the science behind what she sees and then transform that knowledge into something deeply visual and poetic. This conversation reminded me once again that artists often help us see the world differently. Sometimes they simply draw our attention to something that has been there all along. And sometimes, they show us the worlds that exist just beyond what our eyes can see. Every artist has a story worth hearing. https://aninadeetlefs.com https://www.artatafrica.art/?srsltid=AU7gw4V564ixANdfbuWCRrbVWwCm2qxJ5j-fR1rHXzIv7VtYa-pg3gGp 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/

    Anina Deetlefs: The Architecture of Quiet Things | Seeing Beauty in the Unseen
  5. Oct 15

    Di Slaney: Where Poetry, Nature and Animals Meet

    In this interview, I speak with Di Slaney, a poet, publisher and passionate advocate for animals and the natural world. Based in Nottinghamshire, England, Di runs Manor Farm Charitable Trust, a livestock sanctuary, alongside her independent publishing company, Candlestick Press. With a background in marketing and a lifelong affinity for writing, particularly poetry, Di discovered a new source of inspiration when she and her family moved to their farm in Nottinghamshire. What began with a few chickens soon developed into a fascinating exploration of the world through the eyes of the animals themselves. By imagining life from their perspective, Di found a fresh and imaginative voice for her poetry, one that invites us to look at the world a little differently. Di shares how much she has learnt from the animals in her care and speaks about the importance of preserving not only the historic farmhouse but also the surrounding land and its natural environment. Her journey from keeping a few chickens to establishing a livestock sanctuary reflects her remarkable creativity, dedication and energy. Alongside her work with animals and poetry, Di runs Candlestick Press, an independent publisher known for its beautifully produced poetry pamphlets, which make poetry accessible to a wider audience. Di’s writing has received significant recognition. She won the Plough Poetry Prize in 2022 and has been highly commended in the Forward Prizes for Poetry in both 2016 and 2026. Her work has also been highly commended in the Bridport Prize in 2020 and the Rialto Nature and Place Competition in 2025. These accolades reflect her distinctive poetic voice and her ability to find inspiration and meaning in the natural world.What I particularly love about Di's work is the way she draws inspiration from nature and the animals she lives alongside, while also finding ways to bring other people closer to them. Through her writing, her sanctuary and her publishing work, she creates opportunities for people to connect with the natural world, discover poetry and perhaps see animals in a new light. Di's story is a beautiful reminder that inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places, and that creativity, compassion and a willingness to observe the world around us can lead us down extraordinary paths. Every artist has a story worth hearing. https://www.dislaney.com 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/

    Di Slaney: Where Poetry, Nature and Animals Meet
  6. Oct 12

    Francis Jay: Why Art Is About the Process, Not the Result

    In this conversation with South African SAMA award-winning R&B singer, songwriter and producer Francis Jay, we talk about the role that music and creativity have played in his life from a young age. Francis shares how his sister, opera singer Monica Mhangwana, encouraged him and inspired him to start writing songs. She also passed on some of the knowledge and lessons she had gathered along her own musical journey. Music was part of his family life, with his father playing guitar and his mother singing in a choir. One of the things I found particularly interesting about our conversation was Francis's understanding of creativity and the artistic process. He speaks honestly about the challenges of making art, especially when you care deeply about what you are creating. He believes that everyone has the ability to create something they feel passionate about, and that we should explore art not simply for the end result, but for the experience and process itself. I really enjoyed this conversation with Francis and the depth of thought he brings to the subject of creativity. It was also lovely to have had the opportunity to speak with both Francis and his sister Monica, each of whom has their own creative path. There is something special about seeing how two people from the same family have developed their own artistic voices, while sharing such a humble and caring approach to what they do. Every artist has a story worth hearing, and I am happy to share Francis's story with you. https://www.songfinch.com/artists/francis-jay?srsltid=AU7gw4Wq8xFQWWG1BOlTkA-VkhTtDahwpEK7GwaKrBaFYY-ZksF1xidm 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/ #singersongwriter #musicianinterview #petrasittigtheartistsvoice

    Francis Jay: Why Art Is About the Process, Not the Result
  7. Oct 8

    Zarek Silberschmidt: Finding His Own Voice Through Gypsy Jazz

    In this conversation, I speak with guitarist Zarek Silberschmidt, a full-time freelance musician based in Basel, Switzerland, whose work spans solo and ensemble performance, studio work, composition and music education. Zarek’s approach to the guitar is as curious and unconventional as his musical journey, moving between solo guitar, traditional jazz, fingerstyle, Dixieland and, most importantly, Gypsy Jazz. Zarek talks about his early years in Australasia, teaching himself to play and developing his own way of learning. After moving to Switzerland, he hoped to study Jazz formally, but when he wasn’t accepted into music school, he simply continued playing, practising and finding his own way forward. Then he discovered Gypsy Jazz, and something clicked. He knew this was a musical world he wanted to explore more deeply. We talk about his passion for Gypsy Jazz and some of the history behind this beautiful genre, as well as the many other styles that have shaped his playing. Although Gypsy Jazz has become a particular passion, Zarek’s curiosity continues to take him in different musical directions. I always find it fascinating to hear the stories of artists who begin by teaching themselves and then, through dedication, perseverance and curiosity, discover their own path. Sometimes not getting into an art or music school can open another door, leading an artist towards a different way of learning, meeting people, finding inspiration and developing their own voice. I always find it fascinating to hear the stories of artists who begin by teaching themselves and then, through dedication, perseverance and curiosity, discover their own path. Sometimes not getting into an art or music school can open another door, leading an artist towards a different way of learning, meeting people, finding inspiration and developing their own voice. I first discovered Zarek through his guitar videos on Instagram, and I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to learn more about the musician behind them and about the beautiful world of Gypsy Jazz. 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/

    Zarek Silberschmidt: Finding His Own Voice Through Gypsy Jazz
  8. Oct 5

    First the Soul, Then the Lines | The Art of Aurélien VLNA

    In this conversation, I speak with wildlife artist Aurélien VLNA, whose paintings grow from a deep connection with animals and the natural world. Aurélien travels around the world to experience wildlife in its natural surroundings. For him, being out in the wild is not simply about observing an animal. It is about sensing its presence, its movement and its energy. He brings this experience into his paintings through a fascinating process that begins with movement and colour. Aurélien sees his paintings in different parts. First comes the soul of the animal. He paints with the same movement he senses in the animal, allowing the energy of the creature to become part of the painting. Only afterwards does he use ink to draw the details and distinctive characteristics that make each animal what it is. “First the soul, then comes the lines.” Gold and silver leaf bring light into his work, almost as though he is revealing the value and preciousness of the animal itself. Some of his paintings take many hours to complete. In a world that is constantly moving faster, Aurélien has chosen another pace. He calls it slow art. “Nature never rushes. Neither do I.” What struck me most during our conversation is the genuine connection I sense between Aurélien and the animals he paints. He has found his own voice and his place within the world of wildlife art, and his work has begun to receive recognition from major wildlife art communities. He was selected for the prestigious Natural Eye 2026 exhibition in London. This is a conversation about wildlife, movement, patience and the search for the soul within a painting. 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/

    First the Soul, Then the Lines | The Art of Aurélien VLNA

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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.