From ASEM Vice-President to Chairman of the Board of Trustees
A recorder player by training, Thomas Saxer has been head of the Worblental Kiesental music school in the canton of Berne for many years. As an ASEM board member and vice-president, he has often been called upon to deal with pension issues. He has recently taken over as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Music and Education Pension Fund. On July 1, he handed over his seat on the ASEM Board to Gaudenz Lügstenmann.
Thomas, you've been on the ASEM Board for seven years - why the change to the pension fund?
I've been one of the two ASEM representatives on the pension fund's Board of Trustees for six years, so I'm already familiar with the field. I consider pension provision to be an extremely important issue, as it affects the security of people working in the music industry and music schools. We need to take action in the face of various constraints and find far-reaching solutions together. It's a challenge I'm really looking forward to taking up.
So you were introduced to a totally new field?
Exactly. The subjects we deal with are sometimes very specific. All members of the Board of Trustees are required to attend annual training courses and report on their progress.
Was the subject of pensions already important to you when you were a young musician?
It's a good question. The first time I looked into this subject was twenty years ago, as a young director of a music school preparing to change pension funds. Unfortunately, pension provision is often neglected - for understandable reasons. And music teachers, with their rather modest and irregular incomes, are often poorly insured. Yet people who take care of their pension provision early enough can influence their standard of living after retirement.
You're leaving the ASEM committee after seven years. At the time, what prompted you to get involved at national level?
I really enjoy strategic thinking, looking beyond my own field and learning new things. What's more, I could identify with ASEM's vision: anticipate, unite, support. By this time, three new members had joined the committee at the same time. I applied for the Finance & Services sector, as I wanted to broaden my horizons.
Looking back, what are the personal highlights of your time on the ASEM committee?
The opportunity to exchange ideas with the many players in the ASEM environment. And chairing the Pre-College Music CH Conference. It's been a fascinating task. The first two editions of Pre-College-Days, which we organized once in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and once in the French-speaking part of the country, were very powerful moments, including on an emotional level. Over a hundred young people got together and played enthusiastically - I was very touched.
The committee meets several times a year for intensive sessions, and participates in a three-day retreat organized each time in a different canton. Last year, you distinguished yourself as a grill expert - in the pouring rain...
That's right (laughs). A convivial barbecue evening was on the agenda, and we didn't want to give it up despite the rainy weather. It's a good example of how we work together on the committee and with the secretariat: simple, human and yet extremely professional. We often have moments like this, especially at our retreats. I also remember, for example, our morning jogging sessions with Christian Braun, at seven o'clock before the meeting, or a cooking class together. The musical parts were also great moments: once, we sang Gregorian chants in a convent, it was wonderful.
Thomas Saxer looks after the grill during retirement in 2024
How important is musical practice in your daily life?
I'm very grateful to have been able to study music, and during my studies I also learned to play the piano. Today, I've practically given up the flute because of a hearing problem, but I play the piano regularly. My favorite thing is to improvise.
Do you have a favorite piece of music?
As a flautist, I was fascinated by sound formation, regardless of musical style. During my classical studies, I also played in a funk and folk-rock band, and I loved and still love the sonatas of J. S. Bach. So there are many styles of music that touch me. And I regularly make new discoveries that I like.
_____________________________________
Visit Music and Training Pension Fund
The Swiss Association of Music Schools founded the pension fund in 1978 as a pension fund for music school teaching staff. In the meantime, in addition to the ASEM music schools, many other institutions in the fields of education, music and other arts have also joined the fund. For people working in the arts sector, whether self-employed or employed by several employers, the fund offers pension solutions that provide income protection from the very first franc.
The "Caisse de pension Musique et Formation" is a member of the Association Suisse des Institutions de Prévoyance ASIP and is therefore subject to the ASIP charter.
