Hermine Schneider

Place of birth

Netherlands

My story

I am Hermine Schneider, flugelhornist, trumpeter, and composer. My musical roots lie in jazz and improvised music. In 2015, I founded the Catching Cultures Orchestra together with Roelof Wittink. This followed a special project with De Tegenwind and musicians from the asylum seekers' center (AZC). What began as a meeting between wind instruments and musicians without residency permits grew into an orchestra that connects cultures. It started with a welcome concert for the refugees staying at the Jaarbeurs. After a hesitant start, the party broke loose: singing, dancing, celebrating together. It felt like a celebration of recognition and connection, a memory I will always carry with me.

Instrument

Flugelhorn

My input in the orchestra

For a long time, as co-founder, I was the artistic and musical director, but due to health reasons, I relinquished that role. Now I play primarily as a musician in the orchestra again.