I am a professor at University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf for music in social work / community music. Previously I was a lecturer on the first MA in Inclusive Music Education/Community Music in Germany, a course that I co-wrote, at Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. Before that I worked as a community artist for over ten years in research, consulting on creative learning and community music and movement work. I completed a PhD in music education: my dissertation is about the development of community music in Munich, for it I received the Bavarian Culture Award. I co-edited the first German book about community music. Freelance work includes consultancy on the development of community music programmes for various organizations (most recently the Konzerthaus Dortmund). I am an editorial board member for the International Journal of Community Music, commissioner in the Community Music Activity Commission (ISME) and chair of the Community Music Netzwerk.