Musica Raurica
By joining forces, you can achieve great things: as Basel-Landschaft's music schools demonstrated in September 2023. Over 1,000 children and young people from the canton's 15 music schools came together on stage at the Raurica Theater in Augst.
Image: Foto-Graf
"We would never have imagined that such a thing would be possible," says Martin Burgunder, OC President and member of the committee of the cantonal association of Basel-Landschaft music schools. In front of 3000 people and on a radiant late summer's day, music school students presented four very different concerts, with pieces ranging from Edvard Grieg to Ed Sheeran, from John Williams to a creation by Stephan Hodel entitled "Rock me, Augusta". Several of the canton's state councillors who came to hear these productions, presented under the common title of "Musica Raurica", were particularly impressed and gave very positive impressions in personal discussions.
"We wanted to showcase the work of music schools to the outside world," explains Martin Burgunder, "and we wanted to give the children an unforgettable experience."
The idea for this major event was born some three years ago. All school managements were involved, and interested teachers were able to commit to one of four large-scale training projects. As a result, a joint project for the whole canton was born, with a great deal of enthusiasm and commitment, mostly on a voluntary basis. When asked what he would recommend to other cantons considering such a project, Martin Burgunder replies: "Simply have the courage to do it! He believes that the network forged between the canton's music schools through "Musica Raurica"He is convinced that it will have a lasting effect.
At present, some 9,000 children and young people receive individual tuition in one of the canton's 15 music schools. A further 4,000 are enrolled in group courses such as choir, orchestra, musical group, theater or dance. More than 500 teachers offer modern instruction on almost every musical instrument.
