Living performer for living composer

The imbalance between innovation and tradition in concert programs of serious music in the XXI century hampers the growth of cultural capital (economic, social and cultural values) and the formation of organizational culture within the professional music environment. Therefore, it has negative implications for the sustainability and development of the creative environment and society as a whole. The innovation of the concert repertoire depends on the system of governmental support, consumers' taste and administrative rationality, however, aesthetic priorities of individual musicians and the musical community have the most decisive influence. Since the aesthetic priorities are formed primarily in the educational environment, this work, based on a mixed methods approach, helps to define to what extent Dutch professional music education contributes to the development of musicians’ aesthetic interests towards contemporary music and which the main causes behind this process are. The results show that the level of aesthetic interests towards contemporary music depends on the students' specialization. Pianists, vocalists and string players perform contemporary music occasionally due to a prejudiced attitude towards contemporary music, underestimation of its role for professional development and underdeveloped curriculum.