Last summer I walked through Ostend. In the old kiosk on a city square, a brass band was playing. Not just any brass band from Bommerskonte where the cheerful Antwerp group De Strangers once wrote a hilarious song about. No, a very well-conducted brass band, very musical, perfect. The Koninklijke Harmonie van Financiën? I didn't know that, never heard of it…
Well, would you look at that, a (bored?) member of parliament discovered this orchestra that achieves successes and performs on numerous occasions at home and abroad. That I didn't know it? Well, I'll admit it, my fault because we pay too little attention to brass bands and brassbands at Klassiek Centraal and that is a serious shortcoming because there is some really excellent music to be heard there, played by sometimes very competent brass bands and brassbands from amateurs to professionals. There we have a gap to fill at Klassiek Centraal. If by chance someone reads this who feels called upon to assist us in word and deed as a reviewer, please let us know quickly with an email to bestuur@klassiek-centraal.be.
The 'civil servants' orchestra that no one knows'
It is shameful for the politician who dares to call it that and then attacks it as a pastime of hobbyists who play together a bit in the harmony of the work during their paid hours. Well, the playing together can happen outside working hours. We can still accommodate that. A structural subsidy from the ministry using our money, that of finance, could be developed that corresponds to the current justified costs. We are not talking about just some civil servants who sit around blowing and drumming during hours, just for fun. This is about a fully-fledged quality product that can also generate sympathy for the ministry-that-everyone-dislikes. First-rate ensemble, first-rate music, carefully crafted program with a healthy mix of serious and what is more popular. An ensemble that is an absolute and undeniable added value. And one more thing: the work pays… Every team building in modern HR is during working hours and is paid for by the employer. Should that also be cut because the customers of company X are thus paying for that team building. How crazy can it get?
Anyone who has heard this, very derogatorily named 'civil servants' orchestra that no one knows' before will agree with me: this orchestra must continue! The annoyed parliamentarian who thinks it far too expensive and irresponsible will quickly find many millions more that can be saved elsewhere. That he does some research work, simply gathering news bits daily about the umpteenth waste is not hard work. There is money to be had for the taking. And leave this orchestra alone, it is an absolute added value. This orchestra has existed for 120 years. If that parliamentarian starts calculating how much money that trivial little orchestra has guzzled up over all those years. Oh dear then. Maybe he can set a good example and advocate for responsible savings on parliamentarians? Fewer parliamentarians, fewer outings at home and abroad, less pension, less severance pay, lower monthly salary: the orchestra can be paid for from that and there could even be a few more orchestras added...