Crossing Genres, Facing Bias: Queer in Classical, Female in Jazz” with Stéphane Schmalen

In this episode, I talk with two musicians from very different musical backgrounds – Stéphane Schmalen, a queer alt-violist from Luxembourg who studies classical music, and an anonymous female jazz vocalist.

Despite their contrasting genres, both share strikingly similar experiences navigating the male-dominated world of music, particularly within Codarts and beyond. We explore how gender identity, queerness, and tradition intersect in conservatories and professional environments.

Their stories reveal both subtle and overt forms of inequality – but also resilience, reflection, and a call for more inclusive spaces in music education and performance.