Rosa Reitsamer

Rosa Reitsamer serves as Professor of Music Sociology at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) since 2019 and currently holds the position of Chair of the University Council, actively shaping institutional governance at one of Europe's premier music education institutions.

Her research critically examines the structural dynamics of music ecosystems through multiple interconnected lenses: the historical evolution of music sociology, pedagogical frameworks in tertiary music education, employment precarity within global music labor markets, and the systemic reproduction of social inequalities in musical professions. A significant portion of her scholarship investigates gender-based disparities and develops activist methodologies for equity in music education and performance industries. Her work consistently bridges theoretical rigor with practical interventions aimed at transforming music's social impact.

Her scholarly contributions have earned significant recognition:

• Gabriele Possanner State Prize for Gender Studies (2021) - awarded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research for groundbreaking research and transformative teaching practices that integrate gender perspectives across music sociology curricula.

Through her dual role as academic researcher and institutional leader, Professor Reitsamer drives initiatives connecting sociological analysis with concrete policy changes in music education and professional development pathways.