The General Assembly of the non-profit association Brussels Philharmonic has, at the request of the Flemish Government, appointed Dr Johan Swinnen as its new chair.
Dr Swinnen has an academic profile, works as a certified fine art expert and is an experienced cultural administrator (previously at KVS, deBuren, Muntpunt, VAF). He succeeds Baron Hugo Vandamme, who has been chair since 1998.
30 November 2021 – The General Assembly of the non-profit association Brussels Philharmonic has, at the request of the Flemish Government, appointed Johan Swinnen as the new chair.
As of 1 December Dr Swinnen will succeed the outgoing chair Baron Hugo Vandamme, who has helped steer the non-profit organisation since it became financially independent in 1988. Today, Baron Vandamme can look back on an impressive 23-year career, in which he helped both ensembles to blossom into valued players in the national and international artistic landscape
As the new chair, Dr Johan Swinnen wants to maintain the present course of the organisation, and also intensify the focus on what is very clearly the DNA of Brussels Philharmonic and Vlaams Radiokoor: the great attention and passion for innovation in a high-quality environment.
Dr Johan Swinnen will also use his position as chair to fortify and broaden the many partnerships that the organisation enjoys with various cultural, social and economic actors. Finally, he will also tackle the infrastructure challenge for both ensembles.
Gunther Broucke, manager of the non-profit association Brussels Philharmonic, is looking forward to the new collaboration: Broucke and Baron Hugo Vandamme were a formidable due for almost two decades, with many exceptional achievements. Today he looks forward confidently to the appointment of Dr Johan Swinnen, who will help shape the future of the ensembles with his new and refreshing contribution.