Fluid Voices : Intersecting Power Structures in Music Education and Performance

Kurzfassung/Abstract

This paper explores the artistry of a Turkish countertenor whose eclectic vocal and stylistic choices challenge traditional constructs of genre and gender. Navigating Western classical, pop, and nostalgic Turkish music, and performing in multiple languages, his performances—marked by feminine-coded styling—invite audiences to question entrenched societal norms about gender and identity. The study employs thematical analysis to explore how vocal expression is shaped by intersecting power structures, including heteronormativity, bodyism, classism, and racism, within music education and performance. While the research is ongoing, this presentation will focus on preliminary findings and discuss the potential of intersectionality as a lens for understanding complex power relations in music education and performance.