In Memoriam: Frans de Ruiter (1946–2025)

Former President and Member of Honour of the International Music Council

Frans de Ruiter speaks at the opening
ceremony-performance of the 5th World Forum on Music (Brisbane, 2013)

The International Music Council mourns the passing of Frans de Ruiter – visionary leader, artistic pioneer, and tireless advocate for the role of music and the arts in society. As President of the International Music Council (IMC) during two pivotal mandates (1997–2001 and 2009–2013), Frans de Ruiter left an enduring mark on our organisation and the global music community.

Frans brought to the IMC a unique blend of artistic sensibility and administrative brilliance. A passionate champion of the arts, he believed deeply in the power of music to foster cultural understanding, promote human dignity, and support sustainable development. Under his leadership, the IMC strengthened its role as a global platform for dialogue among NGOs and cultural stakeholders. He was instrumental in the proclamation of the Five Music Rights by IMC in 2001, which represent the core values that our organisation has been promoting since its foundation.

Throughout his professional life, Frans has consistently advocated for public support for the arts. His belief in music’s central place in public life was not merely rhetorical – he challenged political leaders at all levels to embrace the arts as an essential part of a healthy, democratic society. His voice was always clear, courageous, and informed by decades of hands-on experience in the cultural landscape of Europe and beyond.

Before his time at the IMC, Frans was already a celebrated figure in cultural institutions and international networks. As Director of the Holland Festival (1977–1985) and co-founder and director of the Utrecht Early Music Festival (1982–1994), he shaped the artistic direction of some of Europe’s most influential festivals. His long tenure as President of the European Festivals Association (1989–2004), of which he later became an Honorary Member, further demonstrated his ability to connect visionary programming with sustainable policy and institutional frameworks.

In academia, Frans left an equally powerful legacy. He was the founding director of the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA) at Leiden University and played a pioneering role in bridging conservatoire and university education, particularly through his leadership at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and his work with the University of Leiden.

Even in his later years, Frans remained committed to reflecting on and sharing his life’s work. He was in the process of writing a book about his 55 years in the cultural sector, two chapters of which were published in the European Festivals Association’s Eye-to-Eye magazine. These writings reveal the same clarity of thought, depth of insight, and unwavering conviction that shaped his leadership across institutions and generations.

Frans de Ruiter was more than a cultural leader—he was a builder of bridges between artists, institutions, and nations. He thought as an artist yet acted with the discipline and foresight of a skilled administrator. His legacy lives on in the festivals he enriched, the institutions he shaped, the colleagues he encouraged, the students he mentored, and the policies he influenced.

We at the International Music Council remember Frans not only for his achievements, but for his warmth, wit, and unrelenting dedication. His contributions to music and the arts have made the world more just, more beautiful, and more connected.
He will be profoundly missed.