In these times, we realize once again how important it is: music. Listening to music, and not just through a sound system, television, computer or smartphone, but live, in the same room as those playing it, so that we really feel connected to them and the music itself. Making music, not at one and a half feet in small groups, but full on, in exactly the conditions that are optimal for what is being played, so that we really feel connected to what we are playing and for whom and where.

Yet, despite the long absence of these optimal conditions, we have not lost the music, rather have come to appreciate it more. Why? Because, in an almost mysterious way, music is more than that. We have been able to take the time to think about that. About the way we have organized the music. The money, time, talent and dedication required to learn it, as on our courses intended for children as young as five up to the university doctoral programs at Leiden University. The money, time, talent and dedication needed to make it Residentie Orkest are just as much the money, time and dedication needed for a society, our planet, to function.

Perhaps this time has taught us as conservatories or orchestras to realize that we are much more than organizations that have to maintain a business model with grants and other income. As if we were primarily the rightful recipients of financial support, entitled to it, and therefore able to do what we love to do, teach music, study music, play music, perform that beautiful music and bring it to life. But then we would almost forget that music is also more, can do more, can actually do anything. In that shared realization, the Residentie Orkest and the Royal Conservatoire The Hague find each other. Not even because they are based in the same city. Not even because they live and work together at Amare, although that is already a unique circumstance for a conservatory and a top professional orchestra. Music is not only publishing and performing but also investing. Just as the Royal Conservatoire The Hague invests in teaching, research, education and projects inside and outside the building, the Residentie Orkest invests in our composition students with the One Minute Symphony project, in our classical music students with the Orchestra Master, by collaborating with the opera talents in the Dutch National Opera Academy, or the conducting talents in the National Master Orchestra Conducting. Together, we invest in education in The Hague's schools and into the city , work with other partners and artists in "We The Hague. In this sense, Residentie Orkest and Royal Conservatoire The Hague, with our partners in Amare are not so much recipients of subsidies and other income, but investors. In small ways by, for example, collaborating with the 10001 Night music school or helping that one girl learn music and play an instrument, up to and including the commitment we are showing in SYMPHONY 2030 in which we are literally and musically committed to de doelen set by the United Nations for a better world. That may sound pompous, music for a better world. And yet that is exactly the value and meaning of music, investing and contributing to a better world. Both Residentie Orkest and Royal Conservatoire The Hague believe that to be possible. Not so much because we pretend to, but because music can. After all, music can do anything.

• Henk van der Meulen

Director Royal Conservatoire The Hague