Presidium news

Presidium elections 2021

The Presidium of the EMU in partnership with the Fédération Française de l’Enseignement Artistique (FFEA) held the 46th Meeting of the EMU General Assembly and European Music School Forum online on 14th and 15th May 2021.

During the General Assembly, the members elected the following board members for the period 2021 – 2024: Philippe DALARUN, President (France), Romain ASSELBORN, Vice-President (Luxemburg), Aleksandar DJURIC (Serbia), Csilla GÁL (Hungary), Paolo PONZECCHI (Italy), Robert VROEGINDEWEIJ (Netherlands) and Zuzana HORVÁTHOVÁ (Slovakia).

Presidium elections 2018 in Sneek, The Netherlands

In the frame of the youth music festival in Sneek took place the 43rd General Assembly of the European Music School Union. The assembly was intended by over 60 participants representing 23 of the 26 members within the EMU today.

Besides discussing the new activities and projects presented by the EMU board and secretariat, the GA also hosted elections to the new presidium of the EMU for the period 2018 to 2021. The newly elected members of the presidium are Philippe DALARUN, President (France), Christine BOUVARD-MARTY, Vice-President (Switzerland), Board Members: Silja AAVIK (Estonia) , Romain ASSELBORN (Luxemburg), Aleksandar DJURIC (Serbia), Michaela HAHN (Austria).

The General Assembly was followed by a discussion platform. The discussion platform hosted presentations on the topics on digitisation in music pedagogy and early childhood music education. These two topics will be prominent on the agenda of the EMU, as a successful application for EU funding under the Creative Europe programme allows the EMU to allocate more resources to work on the matter. Attendants got to learn more about the expected outcome of the project, make comments and state their interest in getting involved.

Presidium elections 2015

The 2015 elections took place during the 40th Meeting of EMU General Assembly and Conference: ‘Heritage, Diversity, Future’ and the newly assembled presidium will take on interesting and exciting challenges for the new term of office.  

Presidium meets Italy / Allegromosso 2014

From 29 May till 1 June 2014 Italy was the host of the EMU presidium. The presidium was invited by the AIdSM – Italian Association of Music Schools, the City of Riccione, the Region Emilia Romagna and Firmatour di Egocentro srl., who also organised the Allegromosso Italy 2014 Festival that took place from 29 May to 1 June 2014 in Riccione.

Presidium meets Latvia

From 7 – 9 March 2014 Latvia was the host of the 11th meeting of the EMU presidium.
The presidium was invited by the Latvijas Mūzikas izglītības iestāžu asociācija – LMIIA and met on the first day Dana Reizniece-Ozola – the head of the Committee for Education, Culture and Science in the Saeima of the Latvian Republic; Ingūna Rībena – the member of the Committee for Education, Culture and Science in the Saeima of the Latvian Republic, former Minister of Culture; Mārīte Grebzde – the acting director of the Latvian National culture centre; Solvita Sējāne – the chairman of the Latvian Music board. On the second day of the meeting the presidium joined a concert by students from the music schools around Latvia.

Presidium meets Croatia

From 6 to 8 December 2013 the EMU presidium was invited by the Hrvatsko Društvo Glazbenih I Plesnih Pedagoga (HDGPP) (Croatian Association of Music and Dance Pedagogues) in Opatija. The presidium met mr. Frano Matušić, HDGPP president, mr. Josip Burjan, HDGPP secretary, representatives of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, representatives of local government and representatives of the local music school.

The presidium also visited the 51. hrvatsko natjecanje učenika i studenata glazbe – KOMORNI SASTAVI (National Competition of Chamber Music in Opatija).

Presidium meets Estonia

From 4 till 6 October 2013 Estonia was the host of the 9th meeting of the EMU presidium. The presidium had been invited by the Estonian Association of Music Schools and met the new board members of the Estonian Association of Music Schools and ms. Anne Kivimäe, head of the Youth Affairs Department of the Ministry of Education and Research.

Presidium meets Slovakia

From 1 till 3 March 2013 Slovakia has been the host of the 7th meeting of the EMU presidium. The presidium was invited by the Association of Basic Arts Schools of Slovak Republic “EMU Slovakia” and met the Minister of Education, Dr Dušan Čaplovič, the Mayor of Bratislava, mr Milan Ftáčnik and the board of the Slovakian Association.

A joint meeting was organized with representatives of EMCY (European Union of Music Competitions for Youth) and ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) Slovak section concerning co-operation between EMU, EMCY and ISCM.

Info-Bulletin based on the presidium meeting in Bratislava

Presidium meets Czech Republic

From 30 November till 2 December 2012 Czech Republic was the host of the 6th meeting of the EMU presidium. The presidium was invited by the Association of Basic Artistic Schools / Asociace základních uměleckých škol České republiky (AZUS) and met the Mayor of Mikulov, Mr. Rostislav Koštial and Mr. Jiři Vrbka, director Mikulov Elementary Art en Music School.

A joint meeting was organized between the boards of the EMU and the AZUS, as well with the participants of the first ‘Conference of Visegrad countries’ (V4: Czech, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary).

Info-bulletin based on the presidium meeting in Mikulov

Presidium meets Germany

From 5 till 7 October 2012 Germany has been the host of the 4th meeting of the EMU presidium. The presidium was invited by the Verband deutscher Musikschulen e.V. (VdM).
On the first day the presidium met the head of the Department of Culture of the City of Bonn, Malte Boecker, the new Director of the Beethoven-Haus and Matthias Pannes, CEO VdM and honorary member Rainer Mehlig
The Beethoven-Haus was the venue of the meeting.

On the second day a presentation on the subject of music gerontology “Musical learning in old age” was provided byProf. Dr. Theo Hartogh, University of Vechta.

Info-Bulletin based on the presidium meeting in Bonn.

EMU meets San Sebastian

On 2 and 3 July 2012 EMUs’ executive board was invited by the Association UEMYD (Union de Escuelas de Musica y Danza) and the EHME (Association of Music Schools of Euskal Herria) to Donostia-San Sebastian. Main topic of the visit was to analyse the possibilities to organise a European Youth Music Festival in the European Capital of Culture Donostia-San Sebastian in 2016.

A joint meeting was organized between the boards of the EMU, UEMYD, EHME and the Office of the European Capital of Culture 2016.

After that ‘The Hondarribia Declaration Arts Education for a Society of Sustained Development in the 21st Century’ was signed in the Parador de Hondarribia. The Declaration has been based on UNESCO’s Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education and the EMC Bonn Declaration.

Read more in the Declaration

Presidium meets Norway and Nordic Network

From 2 till 4 March 2012 the Norsk Kulturskoleråd has been the host of the 3rd meeting of the EMU presidium.

A joint meeting was organised with the Nordic Network Group (Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) as well with the UMM/EMCY v/ Otto Graff Norske musikklæreres landsforening.

Presented were programs for music education in the schools of Norsk Kulturskoleråd v/ Bård Hestnes og Grieg Music Education v/Gisle Johnson.

Publication Schools of Music and Performing Arts

Presidium meets Switzerland

From 9 till 11 December 2011 Switzerland was the host of the 2nd meeting of the EMU presidium. The presidium was invited by the Association of Swiss Music Schools (ASMS) and met the Mayor of Lucerne, Urs W.Studer, and the Head of the Department of Instruction of the Canton of Lucerne, Mr.Reto Wyss.
A joint meeting was organized between the boards of the EMU and the ASMS, as well as an extensive  visit of the Music School of the City of Lucerne with Mr.Yves Illi, school director.

Presidium meets Faroe Islands

From 7 till 9 October 2011 Faroe Islands hosted the 1st meeting of the in May elected EMU presidium. The presidium was invited by the Association of Music Schools in Faroe Islands (Musikkskúlaskipan Føroya).

EMU elects new Presidium

The General Assembly of the European Music School Union (EMU) elected during their annual meeting on 27 May 2011 in Tallinn, Estonia Helena Maffli (Switzerland) as president of the EMU. Helena Maffli is director of the Conservatoire de Lausanne since 1999 and has been board member of the EMU since 2005. She is board member of the European Music Council since 2010, was board member of the Swiss association of Music Schools from 2002 – 2006 and member of the artistic board of the Swiss Youth Music Competition 2003-2008.

The General Assembly re-elected Paolo Ponzecchi (Italy) as vice president. Paolo Ponzecchi was presidium member of the EMU since 2003 and is vice president since 2007. He is president of the AIdSM (Italian Association of Music Schools) since 2003 and director of the music school Giuseppe Verdi in Prato since 1999.

Elected ordinary board members:

. Urvi Haasma (Estonia)
Urvi Haasma is president of the Estonian Music School Union since 1993 and director of the music school in Viimsi vald, Estonia since 1977

. Timo Klemettinen (Finland)
Timo Klemettinen is member of the EMU presidium since 2007, chairman of the board of the European Music Council (EMC) since 2008, member of the board of the International Music Council (IMC), director of the Association of Finnish Music Schools since 1999 and chairman of the Finnish Art School Association since 2007. In 2003 he was appointed general secretary of the Finnish Music Council and since 2008 he was elected as chairman of the Finnish Music Council.

. Tomas Kolafa (Czech Republic)
Tomas Kolafa is director of the Junior and Secondary School of Performing and Fine Arts in Liberec, Czech Republic. He represents the Association of Basic Artistic Schools of the Czech Republic in EMU since 2006.

. Willem van Moort (The Netherlands)
Willem van Moort is board member of the Dutch association ‘Kunstconnectie’ since 2009, chair of the executive board BplusC in Leiden since 2008 and president Management Consulting Cultural Institutions of the city of Leiden since 2009. He was from 1998 – 2007 director of the music school in Leiden, and from 2003-2005 coordinator of Music Education Royal Conservatoire, Den Haag.

. Prof. Ulrich Rademacher (Germany)
Prof. Ulrich Rademacher is vice-president of the Verband deutscher Musikschulen e.V. (VdM) since May 2011 and board member of the VdM and ‘Jugend Musiziert’ since 2005. He is director of the Westphalian School of Music since 1989 and professor for vocal accompaniment and lied-interpretation at the Musikhochschule in Wuppertal.

Dr. Gerd Eicker appointed as honorary member
The General Assembly appointed departing president Dr. Gerd Eicker as honorary member of the EMU. Dr. Eicker was president of the EMU since 2007, President a.i. from 2005- 2007 and board member / Vice-President since 1996. He was President of the VdM Verband deutscher Musikschulen e.V. from 1996 till 2005.

Thanks to departing board members Katalin Asztai, Marion van der Hoeven and Viktor Zadnik.
The General Assembly thanked departing board members Katalin Asztai (Hungary) who was on the EMU board since 2003, Marion van der Hoeven (the Netherlands) on the EMU board since 2005 and Viktor Zadnik (Slovenia) on the EMU board since 1999 for their tremendous contributions to the EMU.

Election auditors
The General Assembly elected the following auditors for a term of four years:
. Klaus Beck, Liechtenstein
. Peter Heiler, Austria

75 Participants from all over Europe representing 24 National Associations of music schools and music and arts schools attended the 36th Meeting of the EMU General Assembly and Conference ‘The Future of Music Education in Europe – Further Development of Music Schools’ in Tallinn, Estonia from 26 – 29 May 2011.
The meeting was organised in close co-operation with the Estonian Association of Music Schools.

Presidium meets Spain

From 4 till 6 March 2011 San Sebastian in the Basque country in Spain has been the host for the 16th Meeting of the EMU presidium.
The presidium was invited by the Spanish Federation EMYD (Union de Escuelas de Musica y Danza) and the Escuela Municipal de Música y Danza San Sebastian to the European Capital of Culture 2016 Candidate City and Candidate for the EMU European Youth Music Festival 2016 San Sebastian.

Presidium meets France

From 10 till 12 December France has been the host for the 15th EMU presidium meeting. The presidium has been invited by the Fédération Française de l’Enseignement Musical, Chorégraphique et Théâtral (FFEM) and met the board of the FFEM and some delegates in Chantilly.

Presidium meets Luxembourg

Foto Alain Muller

From 8 – 10 October Luxembourg was the host for the 14th EMU presidium meeting. The presidium has been invited by the National Association des Ecoles de Musique du Grand-Duche de Luxembourg (AEM) in Echternach.

During these days the EMU presidium met mr. Pol Schmoetten (Ministry of Culture), mr. Théo Thiry (Major of the City of Echternach), mr. André Hartmann (assistant Major and The presidium also met the whole board of the AEM and visited the new centre for culture Trifolion and the music school in Echternach, also housed in Trifolion.

Presidium meets Slovenia

The 11th EMU presidium meeting has been taken place in the Fran Korun Koželjski Music School in Velenje, Slovenia from 5 – 7 March, one of the oldest music schools in Slovenia. The presidium was invited by the Slovenian Association‘Zveza Slovenskih Glasbenih Sol’ and met during these days a delegation of the board of Sveza Slovenskih Glasbenih Sol, Mr. Srečko Meh, Mayor of Velenje.

Presidium meets Germany

The 10th EMU presidium meeting took on 11 and 12 December 2009 place in Kulturzentrum Schloß Borbeck Essen, Germany. The presidium was invited by the Verband deutscher Musikschulen e.V. (VdM). The meeting was focussed to the General Assembly 2010, which will be taken place in the European Capital of Culture 2010, Essen from 13 till 16 May 2010.
Read more in the info-bulletin based on the minutes.

Presidium meets Serbia

From 15 till 18 October the EMU presidium was invited to hold their 9th presidium meeting in Novi Sad, Serbia.

The presidium was the guest of the Association of Music and Ballet schools of Serbia, member of EMU since 2005.

The presidium met the board of the Serbian association;  Zarko Obradovic – Minister of Education of the Republic of Serbia and Bojan Pajtic – President of the Goverment of Region of Vojvodina.

Presidium meets Austria

The EMU Presidium held their 7th and 8th meeting in Linz, Austria from 27 February till 1 March and on 19 May 2009. The presidium has been invited by the Upper Austria Music Office and the Association of KOMU – Konferenz der Österreichischen Musikschulwerke. During the meeting the presidium has been informed on the latest activities of the European Youth Music Festival “megahertz” 2009 and the preparations of EMU’s General Assembly and Conference ‘Music Education in Southern European Countries’ be held in Austria from 18 till 24 May.
Read more in the info-bulletins based on the minutes of the meetings: February 2009 / May 2009

Presidium meets Poland

A delegation of the EMU presidium was invited to Poland from 19 till 21 March 2009 by the Polish Association of Music Schools. The EMU delegates met at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage mr Piotr Żchowski, Secretary of State and officials responsable for the management of artistic schools in Poland:ms Manena Maksymienta, mr Piotr Suchodolski and ms Eliza Kujan. vice-director o Ministry of Culture and National Heritage will have a meeting with some officials responsible for the management of artistic schools in Poland at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in Warsaw. The EMU delegates also met the mayor of Przemyśl and the board of the Polish Association of Music Schools. They also visited concerts performed by students of the music school in Przemyśl.

Presidium meets Latvia

The 6th EMU presidium meeting has been held in Latvia from 12 till 14 December. The presidium was the guest of the Association of Latvian Musical Educational Establishments and took place in the Jāzeps Mediņš’ Riga’s Music Secondary school, the Mārupe’s school of Music and Arts and the Sigulda’s Music school. During these days the presidium met the board of the Latvian Association; Agnese Miltiņa and Jolanta Klišãne, Centre of Culture and Creative Industries Education, who gave a presentation on the system of Cultural Education in Latvia and Artis Simanis, rector of the Latvian Academy of Music today, who gave a presentation on the connection between the Academy and music secondary schooand music schools).
The presidium also met Daina Raksniene, the Chair of Lithuania’s Association of music school teachers, who was invited as special quest.

Presidium meets Liechtenstein

The 5th EMU Presidium meeting has been held on 3 and 4 October 2008 in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. The presidium was the guest of the Liechtensteinische Musikschule.
During those days the presidium met the minister of education, Hugo Quaderer, the new president of the association, Christa Eberle and general manager Klaus Beck.
Also present were the Swiss Councillor Susanne Leutenegger Oberholzer and the president of the Verband Musikschulen Schweiz, Hector Herzig and general manager Ruth Hochuli.
The Liechtensteinische Musikschule is a member of the Verband Musikschulen Schweiz.

Presidium meets Czech Republic

Under the patronage of the President of the Parliament of the Czech Republic the Senate, Premysl Sobotka and the Mayor of Liberec City Jiri Kittner the presidium of the EMU had been invited by the Asociace základních uměleckých škol České republikyse sídlem (AZUŠ) to hold their 3rd meeting in Liberec on 22 and 23 February.During these days the EMU presidium met the Mayor of Liberec Jiří Kittner, the President of the Senate, the Ministry of Education and the board of AZUŠ.

Presidium meets Iceland

The 2nd EMU Presidium meeting has been held on 7 and 8 December 2007 in Reykjavik, Iceland.
During those days the presidium met the board of the Icelandic Association of Music Schools, principals of music schools and some national and local authorities: Mr. Guòni Olgeirsson (adviser in the Department of Education), Mrs. Svandis Ingimundardóttir (department of Development & International Relations Associaton of Local Authorities), Mrs. Margrét Sverrrisdottir (president City Council), Mrs. Oddnýóttir (president Council of Education).

The board of the Icelandic Teachers iAssociation informed the EMU presidium about the activities of their association.

Presidium meets EU Commissioner Jan Figel’ and Slovakia

On 9 November 2007 the presidium of the European Music School Union (EMU) had a meeting with Mr Jan Figel’, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The presidium was the guest of the Association of Basic Arts Schools of Slovak Republic “EMU Slovakia”

The meeting with Mr Figel’ focused on an important strategy document on culture, adopted by the European Commission on 10 May 2007 in the form of a Communication, which proposes a European agenda for culture in a globalizing world.

The main question to Mr Figel’ was: ‘How can we – the European Music School Union, with our experiences and our capacities – contribute to the development of this document and how can we put this dialogue into practice’.

The EMU board was very impressed by Mr Figel’ messages full of wisdom and optimism and by his strong belief in a new Europe: a European mosaic of culture.

Read more in the report of the meeting.

EMU elects new Presidium

The General Assembly of the European Music School Union (EMU) elected Dr. Gerd Eicker as President of the EMU. Dr. Gerd Eicker has been President a.i. of the EMU since 2005 and board member / Vice-President since 1996. He was President of the VdM Verband deutscher Musikschulen e.V. from 1996 till 2005.

The General Assembly elected Paolo Ponzecchi (Italy) – board member since 2003 – as Vice-President. Paolo Ponzecchi is President of the AIdSM (Italian Assocation of Music Schools).

Timo Klemettinen (Finland) was elected as new member of the board. Katalin Asztai (Hungary), Marion van der Hoeven (The Netherlands), Helena Maffli (Switzerland) and Viktor Zadnik (Slovenia) were re-elected.

55 delegates from all over Europe representing 24 National Associations of music schools and music and arts schools attended the 32th Meeting of the EMU General Assembly held in conjunction with the conference ‘Music Education in Eastern Countries’ and the 9th European Youth Music Festival in Hungary. The meeting was organised in close co-operation with the Association of Hungarian Music and Arts Schools in Pécs, Hungary from 16 till 19 May 2007.