Tribute to Hector Herzig (1954–2026)
Hector Herzig passed away on June 29, 2026, at the age of 72, following a brief but serious illness. With his passing, we have lost someone who left an indelible mark on our association through his visionary spirit and the bridges he built between music and politics.
Let’s make one thing clear from the outset: the Swiss Association of Music Schools owes a great deal to Hector Herzig. He helped launch a popular initiative aimed at promoting equal opportunities in music education, founded the Forum on Music Education, established a music school director training program in collaboration with the Bern University of the Arts, and supported the professionalization of our association. We look back with gratitude on the years we spent with him, and extend our sincere condolences to his family.
After studying the trumpet at the Zurich University of the Arts, Hector served as director of the Liestal Music School from 1991 to 2007 and developed the school with a strong focus on quality. From 2006 to 2012, he served as president of the Swiss Association of Music Schools (ASEM) and was one of the authors of the «Youth+Music» popular initiative. Together with other initiators, he drafted the text of the initiative and remained politically active until the Swiss people adopted the new constitutional article on music education on September 23, 2012, with a historic “yes” vote of 72.7%. This marked an important milestone for music students throughout Switzerland.
Hector loved to look toward the future. He sketched out visions that inspired others and sparked new momentum. Those who worked with him felt his trust: he delegated and created space for autonomy rather than deciding everything himself. He saw himself as a facilitator. «Trial and error,» he liked to say, and he saw concrete action as the key to success: taking action—acting together—and achieving results together.
He wondered what the music school would be like if it were built on entirely new foundations. One goal that was particularly close to his heart was to bring the music school, as an educational institution, closer to the public school system. He wanted music to be valued on par with other academic subjects, and was convinced that every young person had the right to a good musical education—whether or not it led to a professional career. It was clear to him that society needs culture, and music in particular.
The Forum on Music Education (FFM), which he co-founded in 2002, was also part of his vision for the future. Since then, every two years, music school directors, music teachers, and others interested in music education have gathered for two days in Baden (AG) to exchange ideas, build networks, and develop new concepts together. He also made a significant contribution to the development of the “quarte open label” quality management system and the certification program for music school directors.
His clear, unwavering stance could also be polarizing and sometimes led to intense discussions within the committee. He sometimes lamented the slowness of the political process, but that did not prevent him from continuing his public service after his time with ASEM—on the one hand as mayor of Langenbruck, and as chairman of the PVL in Basel-Landschaft from 2011 to 2019.
Hector Herzig was a man who thought big yet remained close to people. A friend of music, he supported many individuals and institutions in bringing their projects to fruition. We bid him farewell with deep gratitude and respect. We will remember him as someone who always encouraged us to think big while staying grounded in action.
