Abstract

The aim of the article is to illuminate the idea that humility – understood as self-knowledge and a relational virtue in the Thomistic sense – is essential for professional excellence in music. The article begins by examining contemporary interpretations of humility and then refers to the conceptions of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. It argues that 1) Aquinas’s conception of humility aligns well with current understandings of humility among professional musicians in Western classical music; 2) humility can be considered a role-specific virtue in music; and 3) high-level musical practice serves as a form of training in the virtue of humility. The article then draws on studies by social scientists and testimonies from professional musicians and conductors to explore how humility is manifested and actualized in music, particularly concerning self-knowledge and excellence