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
