Anahi Ravagnani

Profile

I am a music educator; passionate about how people express their involvement with classical music and how such a connection can be transformative.

My research investigates the extent to which education and outreach projects offered by classical music organisations allow or inhibit participation in, and engagement with, classical music. Whether through a single attendance in a short version opera concert, or by taking part in a long-term music education project, the study also aims to investigate the value attributed to classical music and its place in people’s lives. In so doing, the study moves beyond a traditional arts education approach towards the question ‘who needs to learn: the participants or the organisation?’

Since I started my PhD, I have been collaborating with projects across different Schools within the University. I was lucky enough to be involved in the Connecting Communities: Intercultural Dialogue, New Technologies and the Indigenous Communities of North Eastern Brazil, a partnership project between the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies with Leeds International Festival and the British Academy. I also took part in The Donut Pilot Project, a joint research project between the School of English, the School of Geography and the School of Performance and Cultural Industries, developed with the aim of evaluating the work of small-scale arts organisation, located outside Leeds city centre. Currently, I am part of the team evaluating the National Theatre's Theatre Nation Partnerships project, a nationwide initiative aimed to grow and sustain audiences for live theatre in England.

Before being awarded a full scholarship to join the PhD programme at the School of Performance and Cultural Industries, I began a collaboration with the National Foundation for the Arts (Brazilian Ministry of Culture) as the Classical Music Coordinator. I previously spent seven years working as the Education Manager at the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra Foundation, where I had the chance to develop several projects focused on participation in and access to classical music, particularly for audiences considered ‘deprived’ of such a scenario. I have also practiced as a Music teacher for both primary schools and adult learning. Since 2010, I have tutored on the Music Education undergraduate programme offered by the Sao Carlos State University (Brazil) in the distance learning modality.

Research interests

• Audience experience
• Music Education
• Equity, access and diversity in classical music
• Arts management 

Qualifications

• M.A. in Music. Department of Arts, Federal University of Parana (Brazil)
• Specialisation: Music education and Mathematics. University of Naples Federico II (Italy)
• BA in Music Education. School of Arts and Communications, Sao Paulo University (Brazil)

Research groups and institutes

• Audience, Engagement & Experience
• Participation
• Network for Hispanic and Lusophone Cultural Studies