Being female band leaders – Artist talk with Guira Una (BR)

Thursday June 11, 202618.30-19.00 Union KulturhusNørre Allé 7, 2200 Copenhagen Entrance is free

Finding strength in a male dominated music industry

This talk opens a conversation about female band leadership in contemporary music, through the experience and perspective of the talented Brazilian female duo, Guira Una, that also performs during Copenhagen Carnival 2026. Coming from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, percussion is deeply central to the culture and to performance practice, but at the same time, within the professional music scene, band leadership, musical direction, and decision-making roles are still predominantly occupied by men. This is not only visible on stage, but across the whole structure that supports the music industry — in rehearsal spaces, live gigs, touring networks, studio work, and informal systems of opportunity. It is a full ecosystem that shapes who gets access, who gets visibility, and who is trusted to lead. From here, the idea is to open a conversation.Let’s talk about this — about how these dynamics are experienced in real life, and how they affect the way music is made and shared. This is an open space for exchange! Questions are very welcome, and sharing experiences, perspectives, and reflections is part of this talk. The talk will be moderated by Yodana Thorsdal from the board of the Copenhagen Carnival.