40 Years Music School Valkenburg

nov. 9th, 1987

A Review

I would like to take the opportunity to write a foreword for the 40th anniversary brochure of the Valkenburg Music School.
In the twenties/thirties, when I myself had music lessons in violin, piano and harmony, one was dependent on the music school in Maastricht for this and had to travel by train twice a week. This cost a lot of time and money, which meant that only a few Valkenburg children had the opportunity to receive music lessons. Later, when I had children of my own, I faced the same problem again. I wanted to find a solution for that. Mrs. Hens, the wife of the mayor of Valkenburg-Houthem at that time, and I then came up with the idea of starting a music school in Valkenburg.
The directors of the music schools of Maastricht, Heerlen and Kerkrade were asked to give us advice and to let us profit from their experience.
First and foremost, money was of course needed and financial support was requested from local tradespeople, companies and private individuals. The first donation of ƒ 100,- came from the brewery De Leeuw, a considerable sum for those days!
Eventually we had enough together to pay the rent for the then patronage building on the Plenkert Street and to buy a used piano and some furniture.

The first board was composed as follows:
Mr. M.J. Ugler, chairman (former music teacher), Mr. J.H.H. Vroemen, secretary/treasurer (stationmaster), Mrs. M. Hens-Jahn, Mrs. G. Schunck-Cremers, Mr. Curfs (teacher in Houthem), vicar Hennekens and Mr. Verstegen (municipal administration of Valkenburg-Houthem) as members.
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