How Music Moves Us

Music has the power to move us. It can also shape how we behave and connect with one another. What mechanisms underlie these effects? What happens in the brain when we listen to music? And how can music create meaningful connections between people? In this multidisciplinary program, we examine from different perspectives how music affects us individually and collectively.

Cognitive scientist Eleanor Harding explains how neurons in the brain move to the music. Choir conductor and composer Sigutė Žurauskaitė and Karolien Dons, professor Music in Context, show how we can use music as an invitation to connect with one another. The evening is hosted by Tassos Sarampalis and Kirsten van den Bosch, Auditory Scientists at the University of Groningen.

In collaboration with Klinkt als Noord & Research Centre Art & Society

Eleanor Harding is a cognitive scientist and researcher at the University of Groningen and UMCG. Her research explores how our brains process music and speech, how music can influence cognition, and the role of hearing loss and aging in these processes.

Karolien Dons is professor of Music in Context at Hanze University of Applied Sciences. Her work focuses on innovative and participatory music practices in society, with particular attention to inclusion, equality, autonomy, and the role of the engaged musician. In her work, she explores how music can create meaningful connections between people and contribute to society.

Sigutė Žurauskaitė is a Lithuanian choir conductor, composer, and workshop leader. She works at the Prins Claus Conservatorium as a teacher, producer, and project manager for the research project Klinkt als Noord. At the heart of her work is the belief that music can connect people and create spaces where everyone feels comfortable, safe, and free to express themselves.