Zawodnik Succeeds Kaufmann at Sonart
The members of Sonart – Swiss Music Creators have unanimously elected Béatrice Zawodnik as their new president. She succeeds Michael Kaufmann.
Sonart reports that Béatrice Zawodnik, a seasoned musician, manager, and educator, is taking over as president of the Professional Association for Music Professionals in Switzerland. A native of Vaud, she has served as director of the Haute école de musique de Genève (HEM Genève) since 2022. Prior to that, she performed as a musician in various orchestras and ensembles, was active in music education, and held various leadership positions in higher education.
In her campaign, Béatrice Zawodnik emphasized the importance of a strong commitment to professional advocacy for musicians of all genres. She is dedicated to strengthening the voice of musicians in cultural policy debates and to promoting fair working conditions and modern social security benefits. Michael Kaufmann served as president of the association from 2020 to 2026.
Sonart – Musikschaffende Schweiz is the largest professional association for music professionals in Switzerland. It advocates for the interests of music professionals across all genres nationwide and in all language regions, with a focus on freelance musical work. The association focuses primarily on cultural policy, the music market, and social security, offering a comprehensive range of services including consultations and workshops. Sonart is supported by a service mandate from the Federal Office of Culture. With nearly 3,000 members, the association operates nationwide and serves members from all language regions.
