The VMS Vice Chairman becomes Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Thomas Saxer studied the flute and has been head of the Worblental Kiesental music school in the canton of Berne for many years. As part of his work as a member of the board and vice president of the VMS, he has become increasingly involved with the topic of pension provision. He is now taking on the role of Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Music and Education Pension Fund. Gaudenz Lügstenmann took over his seat on the VMS Board on July 1.
Thomas, you were a member of the VMS Board for seven years - how did your move to the pension fund come about?
As one of two representatives of the VMS, I have been on the Board of Trustees of the pension fund for six years and already know the situation very well. I think pension provision is an enormously important topic - it's about the security of people in the music and music school sector. It is important to act in areas of tension and make far-reaching decisions together. It's a challenge that I'm really looking forward to.
So you have familiarized yourself with a completely new area?
Exactly. Some of the topics are very specific. All members of the Board of Trustees are obliged to undergo further training every year and to disclose this.
Was the topic of prevention already important to you as a young musician?
That's a good question. I first dealt with it twenty years ago as a young head teacher when our music school was about to change its pension fund. Unfortunately, pension provision is often neglected - for understandable reasons. However, musicians and music teachers in particular with rather low and irregular incomes often have too little protection. If you start thinking about retirement provision early on, you can influence your standard of living after retirement.
You are stepping down from the VMS Board after seven years. What motivated you to become active at national level back then?
I like to think strategically, beyond my own area, and enjoy learning new things. And I was able to identify very well with the VMS claim: lead, support, connect. At that time, three new members joined the Board. I applied for the Finance and Services department because I wanted to broaden my horizons.
Looking back, what would you count as your personal highlights as a member of the VMS Board?
The opportunity to exchange ideas with the many people involved in the VMS environment. And the presidency of the Conference Pre-Colleges Switzerland. That was a very exciting task. The first two editions of the Pre-College Days, which we held once in German-speaking Switzerland and once in French-speaking Switzerland, were also among the emotional highlights. Over 100 talented young people came together and played with passion - that really touched me!
The Board of Directors meets several times a year for intensive meetings and a three-day retreat, each time in a different canton. Last year, you excelled as a barbecue master - in the pouring rain ...
Exactly (laughs). A joint barbecue evening was on the agenda, and we didn't want to give up despite the rainy weather. This illustrates the uncomplicated, human and yet highly professional cooperation within the Board of Directors and with the office. There were often moments like this, especially during the meetings. For example morning jogs with Christian Braun at seven o'clock before the meeting, or a cooking class together. The musical elements were also particularly nice: once we sang Gregorian chants in the monastery. That was wonderful.
Thomas Saxer takes care of the barbecue at the 2024 retreat in the rain
How important is active music-making in your everyday life?
I am very grateful that I was able to study music and that I also learned to play the piano as part of my studies. Today I hardly play the flute anymore, partly because of a hearing problem, but I still play the piano regularly. Improvising is my favorite thing to do.
Do you have a favorite music?
As a flautist, I was fascinated by the shaping of the sound, regardless of the style of music. During my classical studies, I also played in a funk band and a folk-rock band, and always liked and still like the flute sonatas by J.S. Bach. So music touches me in very different styles. And I'm always discovering new things that I like.
____________________________________________
About the Pension Fund Music and Education
The Swiss Association of Music Schools founded the pension fund in 1978 as a pension foundation for teachers at music schools. In addition to the VMS music schools, numerous other institutions from the fields of education, music and other arts have since joined. For people who work in the arts - whether self-employed or in multiple employment - it offers a tailor-made pension solution from the first franc.
The "Pension Fund Music and Education" Foundation is a member of the Swiss Pension Fund Association ASIP and is therefore subject to the binding rules of conduct of the ASIP Charter.
