“Music touches the soul. It goes deep, ”says Harald Kuper, whom we are introducing today in the“ Person of the Week ”series. The passion of music plays a large part in the life of the 58-year-old, who is involved, among other things, as the conductor of the Bakum Music Association.
After graduating from high school, Harald Kuper studied theology in Münster with a degree in Hebrew, Greek and a focus on liturgy, but also studied music and pedagogy to become a teacher.
After his legal clerkship in Vechta, he worked for twelve and a half years at the church secondary school in Cloppenburg and in 2007 switched to the St. Johannes School in Bakum. In high school he teaches fifth to tenth graders, among other things, in German and music. “To be with young people is something very special. I go to school with joy every day. The college is very nice. The work is great and a lot of fun, ”says Harald Kuper.
Father Werner was also a passionate musician
Harald Kuper came into contact with music at an early age. Father Werner was a choirmaster and conductor. Son Harald quickly discovered his weakness for music. “My father encouraged me a lot. We always had instruments in the house, and music students also went in and out. ”So Harald Kuper taught himself a lot, watched others and became a member of an accordion orchestra at the age of 7, before a four-year percussion training followed in Bremen. At the age of eleven, Harald Kuper, who subsequently learned various wind instruments, joined the Bakum Music Association.
At the age of 30, Harald Kuper took over the position of conductor from his father in 1992 and has held it to this day. In coordination with the musicians, Harald Kuper selects the pieces and practices them during rehearsals. “Every gathering should have something special,” says the 58-year-old.
Carrying music as a cultural asset in the future
As a conductor, Harald Kuper would like to help carry the cultural asset of music into the future and to challenge, promote and bring joy to the members of the association in their hobby of music.
In addition to the Tuesday rehearsals and performances, for example at various pageants and church events, the Bakum music association also has an open-air summer stage and a concert in autumn. The sociability is not neglected either. This is ensured, among other things, on excursions and multi-day trips to friends in Beuren.
Honesty, commitment and motivation
Harald Kuper really likes the honesty, the commitment and the motivation of the approximately 60 active members of the Bakum Music Association. For example, current pieces from pop music arranged for brass music are played, but also concert works.
Whether it’s pop, pop, hip-hop or a polka: “Brass music has a lot of facets, is a great medium and accordingly offers many possibilities,” says Harald Kuper, who likes it when the music tells a story.
“We have a good quality. That is often confirmed to us. “Harald Kuper on the Bakum Music Association
“We have a good quality. This is often confirmed to us, ”says Harald Kuper, not without pride, about the Bakum Music Association. He is also happy when he hears from people in the village in Corona times that they are missing the orchestral music and that they are already looking forward to the next performance.
Harald Kuper also acts as district conductor of the Vechta district in the Musikerbund Südoldenburg, an organization of 20 bands. In this function, the Bakumer is the contact person, mediator and takes care of questions relating to conductor training and music design. In addition, he is allowed to conduct 700 musicians at the same time at the musicians’ union festivals.
Bohemian brass music inspires
In addition, Harald Kuper is the director of Original Südoldenburger, an ensemble founded in 2012 that currently includes 28 actors from various orchestras in the Vechta district. The original Südoldenburger perform waltzes, polkas, concert marches and solo pieces in the style of the Egerland musicians. Normally there are four performances per year and corresponding rehearsals in preparation. Harald Kuper likes the special sound of Bohemian brass music.
“We have a lot of fun with rehearsals and performances.”Harald Kuper on the Original Südoldenburger
“We have a lot of fun with rehearsals and performances”, reports Harald Kuper and is pleased about “amazing talents” in our own ranks. Harald Kuper, who counts painting and drawing among his hobbies, likes the short distances and the crowd in the Bakum municipality.
“I am spontaneous and can deal with people well.”Harald Kuper
“I am spontaneous and can deal with people well,” is how Kuper describes his strengths. For the future, he wishes for continued health “and that I can still make music with other people for a very long time”. Because Harald Kuper would like to continue to pursue his passion for music every day with a lot of joy.
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