We are community musicians
We ignite change. Creating excellent, long-term, and pioneering co-created works of community art that positively change people’s lives, the places where they live, the community they are a part of, and the institutions that are theirs.
On the leading edge of community music practice and pedagogies, impact driven and continually developed through collective experience, training, academic research, in-depth community collaboration, extensive evaluation, and reflective practice.
We are the first community music collective in Germany. A fully democratic, hierarchy-free collective that aims to reimagine the status quo: in the sector, in society.
We envision a world where community creates resilience, facilitates personal and collective development, supports wellbeing, and counters fragmentation and polarisation.
We commit to reimagining and transforming places, institutions, communities with inspiring and ambitious artistic works created with the people, by the people, for the people.
Art is a human right - everyone is an artist
Creative Director (he/him) (en, de)
An international community musician with 15+ years of building bold, democratic music projects across Europe. Matt leads the big-picture work: flagship programmes, fellowships and partnerships that position community music as a driver for social change. Matt believes music is a human right, and spends his time turning that belief into something cities, funders and institutions have to take seriously.
Matt Robinson
Artistic Director (she/her) (de, en, fr)
A pioneer of Community Music in Germany and the force behind landmark programmes in Dortmund and Chemnitz. Marleen leads the artistic heart of our longterm community work: how it sounds, how it feels, and how people are welcomed as co-creators in every room, street and choir. Marleen makes sure our spaces are bold, safe, joyful and real — the reason people come, and the reason they stay.
MARLEEN KIESEL
Executive Director (she/her) (de, en, fr)
An experienced project lead and social innovator with a background in international relations and cultural programmes. Mareike builds the systems that allow the work to thrive: developing and maintaining the funding architecture and impact framework, aligning vision and operations to ensure PLC can deliver lasting impact and that we can keep our promises to communities, artists and partners for the long run. She represents PLC in dialogue with funders, institutions, and cultural decision-makers, positioning the collective as a trusted voice in the intersection of music, community building, and social change.
MAREIKE PESCHAU
Strategic Assistant (she/her) (de, ru, en, es)
Organisational psychologist and transformation coach with a focus on political innovation, team development and community building.
NATALIA PALEY
Intern (she/her) (de, en)
Anne Schwerin
Advisory Board
Prof. Dr. Alicia de Bánffy-Hall
(Professor of Community Music, Hochschule Düsseldorf)
Antje Valentin
(General Secretary, German Music Council)
Elisa Beck
(Community Musician)
Federico Rinaldi
(Network Manager, European Concert Hall Organisation)
Nhân Dang
(Community Musician)
Pete Moser
(Community composer, performer, political activist)
Dr. Raphael von Hoensbroech
(Artistic Director & CEO, Konzerthaus Dortmund)
Rebecca Zimmermann
(Managing Director, Bavarian Foundation for the Future of Culture. Co-founder almaforchange.com)
