50 years of VMS - anniversary celebrations in Bern

There was already a bit of snow in Bern's old town when the guests arrived at the Bern Conservatory in the late afternoon. To get them in the mood, they listened to a compilation of over 100 hours of podcasts that had been produced at music schools in 17 cantons as part of the anniversary tour in September. The Jugend Sinfonie Orchester Bern (JSO) then took to the stage. The musicians, aged between 13 and 23 and conducted by Droujelub Yanakiew, did not open the event with an energetic popular hit, but on the contrary very quietly with shimmering chords from the strings and gentle question-and-answer playing from the woodwind players in the gallery. A top-class interpretation of the Piece "The Unanswered Question" by Charles Ives, for which the JSO received much applause - and loud bravos.

Philippe Krüttli, President of the Association since 2022, welcomed those present with heartfelt thanks, a look back and an outlook on the activities of the VMS. He particularly emphasized the great commitment of the 370 or so music schools that are affiliated to the VMS via cantonal associations.

Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider opened her speech with a quote from Albert Einstein, who said that he would probably have become a musician if he had not been a physicist. He thought in music, lived his daydreams in music, saw his life as an expression of music. She emphasized the skills that music and playing or singing together in choirs and orchestras promote and described them as key skills for the future. The VMS is a key partner for the Confederation and together they have developed the two national programs Young Talents Music and Youth+Music. "Music is not a luxury and must not become one," she said. Finally, she thanked the music schools and music teachers. Their work requires competence and passion - surely those present could all remember dedicated music teachers who had opened up the world of music to them. She also received a big round of applause for her speech and the spontaneous questions to the musicians of the JSO.

Yvonne Glur, Vice President of the Swiss Music Council, standing in for SMR President Stefan Müller-Altermatt, said in her speech: "The existence of music schools is invaluable for society as a whole. 600,000 amateurs and professionals are united in the Swiss Music Council. Without the VMS, without the music schools, it would only be a fraction." Andreas Wegelin, President of the Swiss Youth Music Competition and CEO of SUISA, also thanked the VMS. Promoting musically talented children is meaningful work that the VMS and the Swiss Youth Music Competition have in common, he said. He also pointed out the dangers threatening Swiss music and culture: Artificial intelligence, which requires reliable rules worldwide so that creativity is not rationalized away - and the halving initiative.

With three pieces, 14-year-old Yan Hostettler showed what is musically possible with the hammered dulcimer. He played a piece by the Beatles, Appenzeller Bläss and Yann Tiersen. And David Barta from Lausanne, who is passionate about electronic music, played a drum'n'bass track and then gave an insight into his Ableton session, presenting his favorite synthesizer and explaining the effects he had applied to the individual tracks. The performance of a jazz ensemble from the Swiss Jazz School Bern was also met with enthusiasm - the musicians played two modal pieces full of energy at the very end.

Finally, board member Eva Crastan thanked the music schools and a team from power_up Radio of the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation for making the anniversary tour possible.

The evening came to an end with an aperitif riche and a cozy get-together. The guests from all over Switzerland and nearby countries exchanged ideas and toasted each other. Here's to another 50 years, they said several times - we hope so.