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Liv and Mena on making the Music Production

The annual Music Production by students of the Music in Education programme at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Enschede is a major project involving students from every year of the programme. Fourth-year students take the lead on the production at Muziekcentrum Enschede. They write, organise, produce, manage the budget, promote the show and make sure the theatre is packed. Third-year student Mena Pattirua and fourth-year student Liv Welmer talk about making this year’s performance, Disconnected.

Finding your place during the Music Production

The Music Production brings together everything students learn during the programme. Subjects such as Performance and Musical Expression help them tell a story in a compelling way. They also put skills such as arranging, composing, conducting and collaborating into practice.

Third-year student Mena Pattirua has taken on different roles in the Music Production over the past three years. She started out on stage as a dance teacher, later played a devil and appeared as a school principal this year. She also played trumpet, sang in the choir and danced.

According to Mena, the production also helps students discover more about themselves. ‘You really find your place here. Everyone encourages each other to try new things. Whether you want to sing, act or do something else, everyone’s response is basically: “Go for it.”’

‘The Music Production takes everything you learn during the programme to the next level.’
Mena Pattirua, third-year Music in Education student at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Enschede

The responsibilities of fourth-year students

The fourth-year students lead the production and started developing their first ideas during last year’s summer break. They organise audition days for students who would like to perform a solo. They also formed different teams focusing on artistic direction, music, technology, finance and communication.

Fourth-year student Liv Welmer was part of the artistic team. ‘We came up with the story, wrote the script and thought about the dance, set, costumes and make-up.’

‘I learned how to organise a large-scale project, how to work with others and how to work towards a final result step by step. But also how special it is to hear your own arrangement performed by other musicians.’
Liv Welmer, fourth-year Music in Education student at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Enschede

The 2026 production: Disconnected

For Disconnected, the artistic team wrote a story for pupils in the final year of primary school and the first two years of secondary school. The students chose the target audience themselves and deliberately focused on themes that resonate with this age group, such as pressure to perform, cyberbullying and coming out.

For the script, the students worked with dramaturg and director Sanne Verkaaik. ‘She gave us a class on dramaturgy before we started writing the script and helped us think about how the story could unfold. She also came up with some great ideas for scenes and jokes,’ Liv says.

The programme provides students with intensive support throughout the Music Production process. Alongside an artistic director, a business manager supports them with finances, project management and PR. Two coaches also guide the rehearsals and help students develop the quality of their playing. Arrangement teachers support them with all written music. 

Follow Liv, Mena and the Music Production