Floor Vandevelde
Floor (°2000) naturally fell into the role of production coordinator a few years ago. Behind the scenes, she makes sure everything is prepared down to the last detail: from host families to location visits, cooking meals and picking up flowers, no task is too big or too small for her!
Oh yes, in her daily life, Floor is an interpreter of Flemish Sign Language-Dutch. So, just like Lars, she waves her hands around a lot, but without a baton! :)
A short interview
What is the MSFO to you?
The MSFO grew from an orchestra where some friends played and my husband conducted to my own orchestra baby I care for deeply. It also made me grow, in so many ways. The last few years were heavily impacted (in a positive way!) by what the MSFO did and what I did for the MSFO. I have learned soooo much thanks to what I was able and asked to do.
Can you delineate your role within the orchestra?
For the past few productions, I was (and still am) the production coordinator. This means I take care of everything that has to do with the orchestra: communication to musicians, locations and partners, finding host families, coordinating the different teams (catering & logistics for example), preparing the shopping lists for the meals during the production, hiring the vans, hiring the percussion, etc. It’s a lot of work, but what I get back from the musicians during the production week makes it all worth it.
What do you cherish most from past MSFO concerts?
The warm atmosphere and meaningful friendships between everyone, before, during and after the production week. For example, right before the dress rehearsal of our last production, Lars and I got some horrible news, and it was heartwarming how everyone was there for us. I absolutely appreciate each and every person involved in this very long process.
How would you describe music and music making?
I think my perspective on this might be different than for the others. I’m not the big specialist in classical music. I often don’t hear the pieces completely before the first concert. But that makes it even more special to me. I’m also an amateur saxophone-player but the level the MSFO-musicians have is something I admire and have the utmost respect for.