Samenvatting

Classical musicians dream of an international performance career, a ‘Musotopia’ , in which they are able to make a living only by playing concerts. Reality tells us that 77% of performers earn over half of their income from teaching, and that 90% have a secondary occupation. Is there still work for performers? Reflection on this situation teaches us that the real ‘Musotopia’ is the ability to sustain music practice within a framework that meets not only our artistic needs, but also our personal and professional needs. Conservatories should therefore define the concept of the ‘musician’ in a broader sense. Understanding that modern listeners may need to be approached differently may lead to innovative forms of music performance. Musicians will be able to sustain their performance practice by learning to recognize the musical needs of the community.