Mayor Dassen receives highest WMC award

In a buzzing Rodahal, Mayor Petra Dassen received the 'Golden Timpani' from WMC Chairman Bart van der Roost. This highest WMC distinction is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the WMC.

Director Van der Roost explained why Mayor Dassen deserves this special recognition:

“Petra Dassen truly stands out: she is our most ardent supporter and our most dedicated advocate. One might argue that this is simply part of a mayor's standard duties, but Ms. Dassen does far more than that. We are immensely grateful for her kindness, her leadership, and the attention she devotes to us and to all the residents of Kerkrade—before, during, and after the festival.”

However, Van der Roost did point out one clear shortcoming of Mayor Dassen:

“Although she is a musician herself, she fails to grasp that, as the mayor of Kerkrade, it is simply ‘not done’ to play the violin instead of a wind instrument. We therefore strongly urge her to rectify this mistake before the 2030 WMC!”