Maria Kalesnikava

Maria Kalesnikava, a Belarusian flautist and civil rights activist, was awarded an honorary professorship by Mozarteum University in 2022 for her courageous advocacy of democratic values despite imprisonment in Belarus. Her transnational work bridges artistic expression and political resistance.

Educational background includes:

• Flute and conducting studies at State Academy of Music in Minsk
• Early and contemporary music studies at Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts

Her professional trajectory spans musical performance as a flautist in international ensembles, pedagogy in Belarus and Germany, and leadership as artistic director of Minsk's cultural center 'OK-16'. Following the 2020 fraudulent Belarusian election, she emerged as a key opposition figure advocating for free elections and women's rights, leading to her 11-year penal sentence. Her work exemplifies the intersection of artistic practice and sociopolitical engagement under authoritarian regimes.

Honors:

• Honorary Professorship from Mozarteum University (2022)

Kalesnikava taught music in Belarus and Germany prior to her political activism, with no documented formal student advising relationships. Her transnational projects like 'Practicing Care' demonstrate collaborative grant-funded initiatives, though specific funding sources aren't detailed. Current imprisonment prevents active academic engagement.

She collaborated with music ensembles across Europe and co-founded activist networks including the Coordination Council's feminist group. The 'Practicing Care' project continues her legacy through experimental theater collaborations between Mozarteum students and Belarusian activists addressing displacement and resistance.