History of EMU

2020
The 45th General Assembly of the EMU and European Music School Forum were initially scheduled for May 21 to 24 in Stuttgart, Germany. Due to the corona pandemic, it was eventually held online on 11 & 12 December.
The EMU conducted a survey on the impact of the corona crisis on European music schools and published a report shortly after.
A renewed statistical questionnaire on European music schools was designed.
President: Philippe Dalarun

2019
The 44th General Assembly was held in Sofia, Bulgaria on 30th May 2019.
The EMU organised the third edition of the Meeting of the Boards which was held on 8th and 9th March in Winterthur, Switzerland.
The Second European Music School Symposium entitled “Music Schools – Masters of Collaboration” was held in Austria on 10th & 11th October, It was organised by the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) in partnership with the EMU.
The EMU organised a capacity building seminar, on “Group Pedagogy & Collaboration with Schools” in Tallinn, Estonia on 23rd and 24th April.
Timo Klemettinen left his position as Managing Director by 31st July. Till Skoruppa was appointed as Secretary General on 1st September.
President: Philippe Dalarun

2018 
The 43th General Assembly was organised in Sneek, The Netherlands.
The European Youth Music Festival entitled “At the Watergate” took place in Sneek and Friesland.
EMU acts as a partner in the “Strengthening Music in Society” project, supported by the “Support to European Networks” strand of the EU funding programme for culture, Creative Europe.
President: Philippe Dalarun (after election in May 2018)

2017
42nd EMU General Assembly held in Berlin, Germany.
The second edition of the meeting of the Boards was hosted in Tallinn 30.-31.3.2017.
The First music school research symposium was organised on 6.-7.10.2017 at the the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts in cooperation with the EMU.
President: Helena Maffli
A new online publication with EMU statistics 2015 was published in 2017.

2016
12th European Youth Music Festival EMUSIK 2016 in San Sebastian, Spain
41st EMU General Assembly & European Music School Forum: ’Quality Enhancement and Advocacy’
President: Helena Maffli (Switzerland)
Release: Annual Reports EMU members 2014/2015

2015
40th EMU General Assembly and Conference: ’Heritage, Diversity, Future’ in Luxembourg/Kirchberg, Luxembourg
President: Helena Maffli (Switzerland)
Release: Annual Reports EMU members 2013/2014

2014
39th General Assembly and Conference ‘Adapting to Change’ in Berlin, Germany
President: Helena Maffli (Switzerland)

2013
38th General Assembly and Conference “EMU 1973 – 2013: 40 years for Music Education / Conference: Talent and Creativity” in Przemyśl /Krasiczyn, Poland.
President: Helena Maffli (Switzerland)
Release: Annual Reports EMU members 2012/2013
Presidium meetings in EMU member countries: Slovakia, Poland.

2012
11th European Youth Music Festival: Italy
37th General Assembly and Conference “Goals for the Development of Music Education /The Seoul Agenda and Bonn Declaration” in Riccione, Italy.
President: Helena Maffli (Switzerland)
Release: Publication seminar “From Seoul via Bonn to Budapest”, Development Goals for European Music Education: Access, Quality and Social Challenges
Release: Annual Reports EMU members 2011/2012
Seminar “From Seoul via Bonn to Budapest”, Development Goals for European Music Education: Access, Quality and Social Challenges, in Budapest
Presidium meetings in EMU member countries: Norway, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic
Executive meetings in EMU member countries: The Netherlands, Spain

2011
36th General Assembly and Conference “The Future of Music Education in Europe – Further Development of Music Schools” in Tallinn, Estonia.
President: Helena Maffli (Switzerland)
Secretary General: Gerrie Koops (The Netherlands)
Release: Publication Seminar for music school directors ‘European Leadership Training – Quality’
Release: Publication of EMU’s statistical information
Release: EMU Facebook
Release: Annual Reports EMU members 2010/2011
3rd Seminar for music school directors ‘European Leadership Training – Quality’ in Zeist, The Netherlands
Presidium meetings in EMU member countries: Spain, Estonia, Netherlands, Faroe Islands, Switzerland

2010
35th General Assembly and Conference “Music Education in Europe – Music For All” in Essen, Germany.
Release: Research ‘EMU in Europe. A ‘Panorama’ of EMU and related organizations in the European Union’
Release: Publication ‘Music Schools in Europe’
Release: Website emu4you
Release: Annual Reports EMU members 2009/2010
EMU Seminar for music school directors ‘European Leadership Training’ in Sindelfingen, Germany
Presidium meetings in EMU member countries: Slovenia, Germany, Luxembourg, France

2009
10th European Youth Music Festival: Austria
34th General Assembly and Conference “Music Education in Southern European Countries” / “EMU in Future” in Linz, Austria
Relocation EMU’s official seat in Bonn, Germany
Release: Publication Brief Statistical Information 2008/2009
Release: Annual Reports EMU members 2008/2009
‘MUSICOMMUNICATION’ – EMU Seminar for Board and Management Associations in Milan, Italy
Presidium meetings in EMU member countries: Austria, Poland, Serbia, Germany

2008
33rd General Assembly and Conference “Music Education in Middle European Countries” in Brussels, Belgium
Release: Annual Reports EMU members 2007/2008
Release: EMU in Future
Release: Membership autonomous territories
EMU Seminar for music school directors ‘Music Makes Europe’ IN Livorno, Italy
Presidium meetings in EMU member countries: Czech Republic, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Latvia
Delegation presidium in Poland

2007
9th European Youth Music Festival: Hungary
32nd General Assembly and Conference “Music Education in Eastern Countries” in Pecs, Hungary
President: dr. Gerd Eicker (Germany)
Secretary General: Gerrie Koops (Netherlands)
Release: Relaunch of EMU website, logo and new web domain www.musicschoolunion.eu
Release: Publication Statistical Information 2006
EMU Meeting ”Association Management 2007” in Prato, Italy
Presidium meetings in EMU member countries: Switzerland, Hungary, Italy, Iceland
Extra presidium meeting with Mr Jan Figel’, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and
Youth in Slovakia

2006
31st General Assembly and Conference “Music Education in Nordic Countries” in Kuopio, Finland
President a.i.: Dr Gerd Eicker (Germany)
Secretary General: Gerrie Koops (Netherlands)
Decision to provide the salary of the Secretary General per 1 January 2007
Release: Report on the Third European Meeting ‘The Future of Music Schools in European Policy’ – Prato, Italy
Release: EMU statistic internet base
Presidium meetings in EMU member countries: Slovenia, England, Switzerland, Finland

2005
30th General Assembly in Prato, Italy
President: Timo Veijola (Finland)
Secretary General: Gerrie Koops (Netherlands)
Third Forum: ‘The Future of Music Schools in European Policy’ – Prato, Italy
Release: Report on the Second European Meeting ‘The Future of Music Schools in European Policy’ in Malmö, Sweden
Release on EMU website: Project descriptions (Quality Control in Europe, Total Quality Management systems in music schools, Culture and School, The effects of music on children and young people, Curricula for instrumental education at European music schools)
Release on EMU website: EMU Meeting Point

2004
8th European Youth Music Festival: Sweden and Denmark
29th General Assembly in Malmö, Sweden
Second European Meeting on the Future of Music schools in European Policy – Malmö, Sweden
International Training Course for instrumental teachers of European Music Schools in Kapfenburg Castle, Germany

2003
28th General Assembly in Barcelona, Spain
President: Jan van Muilekom (Netherlands)
Secretary General: Gerrie Koops (Netherlands)
First European Meeting “The Future of Music Schools in European Policy” – Madrid
Release: Report on the First European Meeting ‘The Future of Music Schools in European Policy’
Release: Report “30 Years EMU”
Release on EMU website: Discussion groups and project descriptions on EMU website

2002
7th European Youth Music Festival: Switzerland
27th General Assembly in Bern, Switzerland
Release: Manifesto “Music makes people”
Release: EMU internet site
Release: Networking action plan
Release: Publication on “Professional Qualifications of music teachers in Europe”
Release: New Enquiry formula for new members
Project: Training on group teaching in Schloss Kapfenburg, Germany
Release: Statistical information 2000

2001
26th General Assembly in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Release: Image flyer “EMU – as close as music”
Project: Questionnaire “The educational training of music school teachers …”
Release: Minimum standards for organising a Youth Music Festival
Release: New Fee system
The project “Intercultural Music Education in Europe” is acknowledged by UNESCO as official contributor to the “Year of Dialogue between Cultures”

2000
European Youth Music Festival: Trondheim, Norway
25th General Assembly in Trondheim, Norway
Secretary General: Gerrie Koops (Netherlands)

1999
24th General Assembly in Weimar, Germany
President: Jan van Muilekom (Netherlands)
Secretary General: Jan Willem Mantel (Netherlands)
Release: Weimar Declaration “Music schools in Europe”
Release: Description on the most interesting projects in EMU member countries
Project: “Intercultural Music Education in Europe”

1998
5th European Youth Music Festival: Barcelona, Spain
23rd General Assembly in Barcelona, Spain

1997
22nd General Assembly in Barcelona, Spain

1996
21st General Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark

1995
4th European Youth Music Festival: Budapest, Hungary
20th General Assembly in Budapest, Hungary
Symposium “Intercultural Music Education in Europe” in Strasbourg, France
Release: EMU-Book “Music schools in Europe”

1994
19th General Assembly in Tours, France

1993
18th General Assembly in Arvika, Sveden

1992
3rd European Youth Music Festival: Eindhoven, Netherlands
17th General Assembly in Ried, Austria

1991
16th General Assembly in Rovaniemi, Finland
President: Josef Frommelt (Liechtenstein)
Secretary General: Louis Vogt (Liechtenstein)

1990
15th General Assembly in Schloss Weinberg, Austria
1989 2nd European Youth Music Festival: Strasbourg, France

1988
General Assembly in Firenze, Italy
Secretary General: Edda Dorner (Austria)

1987
General Assembly in Holstebro, Denmark

1986
General Assembly in Vaduz, Liechtenstein

1985
1st European Youth Music Festival: München, Germany
General Assembly in Markoberdorf, Germany

1984
GA was cancelled because of preparation of European Youth Music Festival 1985

1983
General Assembly in Amersfoort, Netherlands
The EMU is granted the status of a counsillor within the European Council (EC) (Non-governmental Organisations)
Release: “ Necessary standards of music education in music schools”
Music Camps in: Savonlinna, Finland; Sonnenberg, Germany; Sigtuna, Sweden

1982
General Assembly in Eisenstadt, Austria
Release: “The status of Music Schools in economically difficult times”
Music Camps in: Savonlinna, Finland; Sonnenberg, Germany; Sigtuna, Sweden

1981
General Assembly in Sigtune, Sweden
Release: “Proposals for the training of music school teachers”
Release: “Guidelines for regulations concerning further training of music school teachers”
Release: “Guidelines for the exams/diploma of music school teachers”
Music Camps in: Savonlinna, Finland; Finnsnes, Norway; Sonnenberg, Germany

1980
General Assembly in Latina, Italy
President: Heinz Preiss (Austria)
Secretary General: Gerhard Heiligbrunner (Austria)
Music Camps in: Savolinna, Finland; Finnsnes, Norway

1979
General Assembly in: Lysebu, Norway
Release: “Co-operation with state schools”
Release: “Co-operation with other cultural organisations and institutions”
Release: “Parents’ associations”
Release: “Concerts and other music schools’ events”
Release: “Public Relations among music schools”
Music Camps in: Lahti, Finland; Samedan, Switzerland

1978
General Assembly in St. Pölten, Austria
Release: “Founding and developing a music school”
Release: “Position and tasks of a music school in its town and region”
Release: “Training and further training of music school teachers”
Release: “Relationship of music schools and state schools”
Release: “Pre-school music education”
Music Camps in: Groznjan, Yugoslavia; Lahti, Finland; Samedan, Switzerland

1977
General Assembly in Spa, Belgium
President: Armin Brenner (Switzerland)
Secretary General: Martin Seeger (Switzerland)
Music Camps in: Groznjan, Yugoslavia; Lahte, Finland; Samedan, Switzerland

1976
General Assembly in Liestal, Switzerland
Music Camps in: Groznjan, Yugoslavia

1975
General Assembly in Tampere, Finland

1974
General Assembly in Suresnes, France

1973
Foundation of EMU General Assembly in Saarbrücken, Germany
President: Diethard Wucher (Germany)
Secretary General: Rainer Mehlig (Germany)
Release: Statutes