In this episode, we step again into a world where music, mental health, and medicine intersect — with special guest Heidi Brandi, musician, therapist, and founder of the Center for Professional Musicians in Hamburg. Heidi shares what inspired her to found the center in 2013, alongside Professors Hugo Schmale and Christian Kunert. Her main motivation was to create a space dedicated to the physical and psychological well-being of musicians — an often-overlooked aspect of professional artistic life we regularly address in this podcast. With her background in piano and organ and extensive experience supporting classical and jazz musicians, Heidi discusses the ongoing challenges musicians face, such as performance anxiety, physical strain, and the unspoken taboos around mental health in the industry.We explore the parallels she draws between “performance music” and competitive sports, including the pressures, recovery cycles, and institutional expectations. Heidi also reflects on whether musicians can regulate their own balance between productivity and rest — or whether larger structural changes in orchestras and conservatories are necessary.
Delving into her research on artistic identity, we unpack what this term truly means: its components, how it’s formed, and how it can be shaped — or even distorted — by external pressures, career expectations, and personal history.
The conversation also covers the role of artistic identity in auditions, how it can be used strategically, and whether adapting to specific orchestra cultures is a strength or a risk. Heidi explains how she works with young musicians and orchestral academies to prepare for these defining career moments — not just technically, but psychologically and emotionally.

In this episode of Penthesilea on Air, Karin Bonelli speaks with Tara Mohr, author of Playing Big—a book originally written for women - containing wisdom that resonates beyond gender. They talk about creative calling, confidence, and how to stay true to your artistic path amidst doubt, fear, and external pressure. Tara shares tools like the Inner Mentor and offers deep wisdom on courage, gender dynamics, and playing big—on stage and in life.

In this episode, we dive into one of the most pivotal — and often overlooked — phases of an orchestral career: what happens after you win the audition.
Joining us is flutist and solo piccolo of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Gudrun Hinze. With over three decades of experience on some of the world’s most prestigious stages — from Leipzig to Bayreuth — Gudrun shares insights from her own journey and her work mentoring young musicians through the high-pressure transition from newcomer to permanent member.
We talk about personal expectations, navigating hierarchies, dealing with rejection, and what it truly takes to build a sustainable life in music. Whether you’re preparing for your first audition or already in the thick of your trial year — this conversation is for you.
Tune in now and get inspired by a musician who has not only lived the path, but helps others walk it every day.

What happens in your brain when you play music? More than you might think! In our latest episode of Penthesilea On Air, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Eckart Altenmüller, a neurologist and musician who has spent decades researching the brain’s response to music. His insights can transform the way we practice, perform, and even experience music.

In this episode of Penthesilea On Air, Karin Bonelli speaks with career strategist and author Angela Beeching about the realities of building a music career. With experience coaching musicians at institutions like the Manhattan School of Music and the New England Conservatory, Angela offers practical advice on shaping a sustainable career, handling setbacks, and broadening professional opportunities beyond traditional paths.

In this episode of Penthesilea On Air, I sit down with Dr. Michael Bohne, a renowned performance coach and psychiatrist, to explore The Power of Emotional Self-Regulation. Known for his innovative PEP technique (Process and Embodiment-focused Psychotherapy), Dr. Bohne has spent decades helping performers, from musicians to media professionals, overcome stage fright and build lasting confidence. This conversation offers valuable insights into how emotional regulation and self-worth play a pivotal role in achieving peak performance.

In this episode of Penthesilea On Air, Alain Altinoglu, one of the world’s most celebrated conductors, shares his fascinating perspective on navigating the complex and dynamic life of a conductor. As the chief conductor of multiple renowned orchestras, including the Orchestre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Alain’s career is a testament to passion, discipline, and the delicate art of balance.

Dr. Lubert combines mindfulness, attentional focus, and self-regulation strategies, drawing from her experience as a violinist and researcher. She has worked with musicians globally, including at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. We are so thrilled that Veronika will join the team of Penthesilea Academy for this year’s masterclass.

This episode of "Penthesilea On Air" features an insightful conversation with Elizabeth Rowe, whose distinguished career as principal flutist at the Boston Symphony Orchestra took a transformative turn when she decided to step away and champion gender equality within the classical music sphere.

In this enlightening episode of "Penthesilea On Air," Roman Rindberger takes center stage, sharing his expertise not only as a distinguished head coach for trumpet students at Penthesilea Academy but also as a masterful practitioner of the Wim Hof method.

This podcast episode features an enlightening conversation with Dr. Katja Schlemitz, a notable Vienna-based physician renowned for her holistic approach to healthcare, specifically tailored for musicians.

In the inaugural episode of the "Penthesilea On Air" podcast, the spotlight shines brightly on Barry Green, a figure whose contributions to music stretch far beyond his impressive tenure as a double bass player with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

The intention, however, has been as crazy as it is unalterable since the beginning: To accompany young musicians on their way to the realization of their dreams by giving them new perspectives, tools and approaches that broaden their view to look further and further beyond their own horizons.

Without any conscious steering from either of us and without intention, it turned into a very open conversation about a topic that, as I only realized afterwards, has been on my mind for a long time as a musician and a human being: Vulnerability.

Das war also der erste Monat dieses neuen Jahres. Ich bin froh, dass ich kein Mensch bin, der sich genaue Neujahrsvorsätze nimmt, denn im Moment ist es mit dem Planen so eine Sache.

Gibt es ein Patentrezept dafür, wie man ein Probespiel gewinnt?