Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Dr Karolien Dons is professor Music in Context at the Research Centre Art & Society of the Hanze. Her expertise consists of innovative music practices in societal contexts. Recurring themes in Karolien’s recent research activities are a.o. participatory music practice, engaged musicianship and ethical aspects, for example about inclusion, equity and autonomy. Karolien was connected to the research group Lifelong Learning in Music where she contributed to numerous research and innovation projects in capacity of senior researcher and project leader, such as Music and Dementia, Music at the Odense house, Meaningful Music in Healthcare (MiMiC) and Professional Excellence in Meaningful Music in Healthcare (ProMiMiC). Karolien studied musicology at Ghent University (Belgium) and music psychology at the University of Jyväskylä (Finland). In 2019, Karolien obtained her doctoral degree at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (London) with an ethnographic study into co-creative musicking with vulnerable elderly people.
Research Interests
Innovative music practices, musical co-creation, new audiences, culture participation, participatory arts practice, ethnography
Professional Information
Chairperson of the Ethical Review Board of the Hanze University (HEAC)
Member Graduate Committee Professional Doctorate (PD) Art + Creative
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Music, Doctor of Philosophy, Musician, friend and muse: an ethnographic exploration of emerging practices of musicians devising co-creative musicking with elderly people, Guildhall School of Music & Drama
2013 → 2019
Award Date: 31 Jul 2019
Music, Master of Arts, Music Psychology, University of Jyväskylä
Award Date: 31 Jul 2009
Music, Master of Arts, Musicology, Ghent University
Award Date: 31 Jul 2007
External positions
Working Group member Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality of the ARTEMIS project, Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC)
2022 → 2025
PhD student, Guildhall School of Music & Drama
2013 → 2019
Vice-chair Working Group Youth, European Music Council
2008 → 2013
Keywords
- M Music
- co-creation
- person-centredness
- listening
- professional musicianship
- music
- culture participation
- ethics
- musical placemaking
- heritage
Research Focus Areas Research Centre or Centre of Expertise * (mandatory by Hanze)
- Art & Wellbeing
- Art
- Healthy Ageing
- Art, Learning and Participation
Fingerprint
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Sound Soils - Opportunity analysis of participatory music practices in rural areas in the Northern Netherlands
Dons, K. (PI) & Taekema-Torfi, R. (CoI)
1/02/23 → 31/10/24
Project: Research
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Prins Claus Conservatorium ontmoet Kamp Westerbork op zoek naar betekenisvol herinneren
Eringa, F. (PI), Stolte, T. (PI) & Dons, K. (PI)
1/01/24 → 1/01/29
Project: Research
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Klinkt als Noord
Dons, K. (PI), Borchers, R. (CoI) & Zurauskaite, S. (CoI)
1/10/24 → 30/09/27
Project: Research
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Learning community art and music in care
Dons, K. (CoPI) & Olthof, J. (CoPI)
1/04/24 → 31/03/27
Project: Other
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Navigating power relations in a collaborative music practice in a hospital
Dons, K. & Gaunt, H., 2021, A changing game: expanding professionalism in music and higher music education. Westerlund, H. & Gaunt, H. (eds.). Routledge/Taylor & Francis, p. 102-114 15 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review
Open Access -
Tussen Passie en Compassie: 18 verhalen van Professional Excellence in Meaningful Music in Healthcare
Translated title of the contribution :Between Passion and Compassion: 18 Stories of Professional Excellence in Meaningful Music in Healthcare Research output: Other contribution › Popular
Open AccessFile182 Downloads (Pure) -
Gewoon aandacht voor mensen en hun context
Translated title of the contribution :Simply attention for people and their contexts Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Professional
Open AccessFile60 Downloads (Pure) -
Charting new roots: exploring musical opportunities within Northern Dutch villages: a sound soils case study
Taekema-Torfi, R. (First author), Visser, M. & Dons, K., 2025, Hanze, Prince Claus Conservatoire, Research centre Art & Society, Research group Music in Context . 15 p.Research output: Book/Report › Report › Professional
Open AccessFile19 Downloads (Pure) -
Een verkenning van het huidige onderwijslandschap op het gebied van samenwerkingen tussen de domeinen van kunst, zorg en welzijn in Nederland
de Wit, K., Gaillard, S., Sirag, S., Reeder, Y., Wolfrat - van der Aart, E., Dons, K., Coumans, A., Camuti, F., Christophe, N., Keuning, G. & van Geelen, S., 19 May 2025, 41 p. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/yp7fv_v1 : OSF PrePrints.Research output: Other contribution › Blogs and web publications › Professional
Activities
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Klinkt als Noord - Boomgaard De Luingahof
Dons, K. (Member), Borchers, R. (Member) & Zurauskaite, S. (Member)
29 May 2025Activity: Other
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PCC Research Festival 2025
Dons, K. (Speaker) & van Dijk, M. (Speaker)
12 May 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Landelijke bijeenkomst van SPRONG-netwerken
Dons, K. (Speaker), Borchers, R. (Speaker), Straver, D. (Speaker) & Keuning, G. (Speaker)
31 Jan 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Netwerkmeeting Creating Cultures of Care
Dons, K. (Organiser) & Coumans, A. (Organiser)
19 Nov 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Deelname aan oppositie tijdens de promotie van Hanneke van der Wal-Huisman
Dons, K. (Examiner)
17 Jan 2024Activity: Examination
Press/Media
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Elderly rehabilitation improves with live music
7/02/25 → 8/02/25
1 item of Media coverage, 1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Muziek in de gezondheidszorg: de Nederlandse zorgsector wil kunst en muziek aan het bed
22/02/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment