Sometime in the 1980s, Bart Lammers heard a piece in a London record store that touched him deeply. That's where the spark with classical music jumped over.' Once back in The Hague, he collected the entire Orchestral Fireworks series and became a regular visitor to the Residentie Orkest. Forty years later he is still closely involved, both in front of and behind the scenes.

Things could have turned out very differently. As a loyal visitor, he felt a strong connection to the orchestra, so he decided to become a Friend. When he moved to Maastricht indefinitely in 1998, he wanted to cancel his membership. "But somehow I forgot.

'A beautiful mistake'

Fortunately, because after his return to The Hague, Bart continued to visit the Residentie Orkest regularly. On one of those evenings, he saw a flyer in the foyer seeking volunteers. 'I responded to that, and so my Friendship subscription was extended to include a role as a volunteer.' His bond with the orchestra grew stronger and he became increasingly involved. Eventually he was asked to serve as a board member of the Friends Association. 'So I'm very glad I was so oblivious at the time. My special connection with the orchestra I wouldn't want to miss now.

'Contributing is easy'

One of the Friends Association's core values is making classical music accessible to a wide and diverse audience. "Contributing is very easy and you get so much in return. Together, the Friends support the orchestra's mission. For Bart, that mission has become personal: 'In addition to introducing people to classical music, I want to show that being a Friend is much more than just attending concerts. You get the chance to deepen and experience true friendship and connection. I find that enormously valuable and want to spread the word.'

'Getting people to enjoy themselves is my mission'

Bart volunteers as a facilitator for elementary school classes and helps behind the scenes with education projects and special events. He especially loves the enthusiastic response from children: "They make an awful lot of fun and noise, but maybe that's how we plant a seed for the future. At the apple pie and neighborhood concerts, he occasionally acts as host. "I love seeing people come in uncomfortably and end up having a great afternoon. He wants as many people as possible to enjoy themselves, each in their own way.

'A welcoming, musical community'

As a general board member of the Friends Association, Bart is jointly responsible for organizing activities for the members. In this way, he hopes to bring them closer to the orchestra. 'The best thing about this role is the contact with the Friends and the chance to show them what the Residentie Orkest can do for them personally.' By making them part of the welcoming musical community, he hopes to further strengthen the connection between the Friends and the orchestra.

'The Residentie Orkest makes an impact'

Bart looks confidently to the future: 'The new Concert Hall and the decisions of the management under the leadership of Sven Arne Tepl are hopeful and promising.' His optimism is reinforced by the Residentie Orkest's growing visibility, including on Radio 4. 'I hear the name come up more and more often, and to me that's a sign that the orchestra is gaining more recognition and reaching a wider audience. We are relevant and making an impact in the world of classical music.'