By Jules Lemmens - choir enthusiast
For as long as I can remember - and that's quite a while - I've been involved with choirs. As a singer, as an accompanist or as a conductor, in whatever capacity, I've always been closely involved with (a part of) the Flemish choral life. Flanders may be just a handkerchief in size, but we have many choirs and some of them are even of high level.
In addition to Flemish choral life, I have also been involved from time to time with choirs across borders, mainly in Germany and the Netherlands. What struck me most in this regard is the disillusionment upon returning to Flanders. Particularly in the case of the Netherlands, the differences with our own choir culture were sometimes remarkably large. In the Netherlands, choral life is considerably richer than with us. Where we (according to a 2015 European Choral Association study) have about 3.8% singers in Belgium, as many as 10.7% of Dutch people call themselves choir singers (6.3% in Germany).
This is noticeable in many aspects of national choral experience. There are very many Dutch choirs, there are also many large Dutch choirs, and these choirs can usually boast more developed support, financial and otherwise. Also, choir conductors in the Netherlands are more often full-time, (semi-) professional choir leaders.
Of course, there's a flipside to this. This framework doesn't come for free. A Dutch choir member often pays per month almost as much membership as what a Belgian or Fleming pays to sing for a whole year. In our country, few choirs work with an annual contribution of €100 or more. Many choirs amount to at most €50, some work for free. The consequence is that compensation for conductors is not always appropriate, choirs have no money to purchase scores, to commission compositions, to attract professional accompanists or soloists,... Did you know that in the Netherlands there are official fee schedules for the compensation of (choir) conductors? Our choir leaders can only dream of that!
It should therefore come as no surprise that various choir conductors in our country extensively advocate for a change of mentality among the numerous choirs our country has. There is demand everywhere for good conductors, but then there must also be a good - and fair - remuneration that enables the conductor to also 'buy' time to prepare, to study,... from which the choir can of course reap the benefits. To realize this and many other things (also supporting our composers through the fair purchase of scores rather than the widespread illegal copying), the contribution of choir members must also be fair. It is unrealistic for a choir member to enjoy at least two hours a week of professional guidance at less than the price of a takeaway coffee every week.
Let it be clear: it would be positive for choir culture in the country if serious work is done on this. Fortunately, there is a Flemish choir federation, 'Koor&Stem', which looks after the interests of choirs and choir conductors. This choir federation also publishes a magazine for choirs and choir conductors several times a year. It is precisely in the latest edition (#21) that there is an article about choir financing, on the occasion of the loss of provincial subsidies. I quote literally: "You should also dare to consider the conductor's fee. Of course, the work of a conductor is very labor-intensive and it goes without saying that something should stand against that. Yet we challenge you to ask yourself a few questions: does my choir really need a professionally trained conductor or do we achieve the maximum equally well with an amateur? Should the conductor's compensation be financial or are there also alternatives?"
Where does the Flemish choir federation get the audacity to, through the mouth of one of their most visible employees, undermine conductors from their own soil like this and minimize their interests in the choral landscape so much? It's not self-evident for this group of people to earn their living from what they're good at (many combine it with a day job as if what they got their master's degree in choir direction for is merely a hobby), the situation is sometimes dire compared to our neighboring countries, and the one ally this group should still have shoots them in the back like this.
In my opinion, there is no organization that so disrespects the professionals it is supposed to represent as Koor&Stem. That it's all about savings from the political side, that's to be expected. But Koor&Stem should be in touch with the professional field, should support choir conductors, not disrespect them and minimize their interests so much.
If I were still very active in the choral world myself, I would have my choir immediately cancel their membership with Koor&Stem. I know in any case that I will encourage my choir conductor - who may also have read the article - during the weekly rehearsal. But really, all choir leaders in the country should make their voices heard to Koor&Stem. It cannot be that what they work for with heart and soul is undermined by a nonsensical article. They should hold the Flemish choir federation to account, and their choir members should endorse this. Because whoever has had an inspiring, experienced and skilled - qualified - conductor knows what that's worth. Perhaps we should explain that to Koor&Stem as well.