The 50th General Assembly of the EMU and the European Music School Forum took place from 28 May to 1 June in Vic, Spain, and in various other locations across Catalonia. The event was kindly hosted by the Catalan Association of Music Schools (ACEM) and the Spanish Association of Music and Dance Schools (UEMyD). It preceded the 15th edition of the European Youth Music Festival RITMIKS, which was organised by ACEM in cooperation with UEMyD and took place throughout the Catalan territory.

The events opened with a reception at the historic City Hall of Vic, hosted by Albert Castells, Mayor of the city, who warmly welcomed all international delegates. In her opening speech, EMU President Michaela Hahn thanked the Catalan and Spanish hosts and acknowledged their dedication to cultural inclusion, community building, and democratic values. She emphasised that music and art schools play a vital role in shaping not only musicians, but also active and empathetic citizens who contribute to a more united, inclusive, and peaceful Europe. The full speech can be accessed here. The reception was followed by a festive joint dinner with all delegates, hosts, and invited guests.

The General Assembly began on the morning of 29 May at L’Atlàntida in Vic, which also houses the local music school. The EMU board presented the activity report for the past year and the upcoming activity plan, together with the corresponding budgets. Members discussed further household matters, and the board unveiled a new logo and visual identity which will be used following the events. The agenda, minutes, and all working documents of the event can be found in the members area. In addition, Michaela Hahn presented the EMU board’s priorities and key actions for its term running from 2024 to 2027. The presentation is available here.

In the afternoon of the same day, the European Music School Forum 2025 officially began. It was opened by Josep Rull i Andreu, President of the Parliament of Catalonia, who spoke about the region’s cultural history and highlighted the importance of festivals such as RITMIKS for intercultural exchange. His address was followed by a speech by EMU Vice-President Romain Asselborn, who praised Catalonia’s efforts in expanding access, diversity, and community engagement in music education. He emphasised that music and art schools across Europe are increasingly becoming social and civic actors, and called for a future built on access, diversity, quality, and collaboration. The speech can be accessed here.

The afternoon programme was curated by the Catalan hosts. As ACEM recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, the association published a book addressing some of the key issues currently shaping Catalan music education. To welcome international participants, a special English-language edition was produced and can be accessed here. Discussions and panel sessions explored several chapters of the publication, giving European delegates valuable insights into current developments in Catalonia’s music school sector.

In the evening, the RITMIKS festival opened with a festive parade through the streets of Vic, leading to the main square. A large stage was set up, and the festival launched with performances by several bands in front of an international audience from numerous EMU member countries.

The forum concluded on the morning of 30 May with roundtable discussions. Participants split into three thematic groups. One group focused on fostering young musical talent across Europe, reviewing policy recommendations and sharing methods to support students through openness, collaboration, and diversity. Another group co-developed an advocacy strategy for music and art schools, brainstorming ways to influence policymakers and strengthen public support at local, national, and European levels. A third group examined how to enhance inclusion in early childhood music education by exchanging best practices and developing strategies to ensure broader participation and reflect Europe’s diversity.

After the events in Vic, all participants were invited to attend festival concerts taking place across Catalonia. The festival continued until Sunday, 1 June, after which delegates returned home.