MuWo September Update

Dear participants,

All those of you that have already registered, but not heard of us, forgive us – as we are only run by volunteers, it sometimes happens that all of us dealing with registrations (Christiane and Ailly) happen to be too busy with other things… You will all hear from us within the next 10 days! Thank you to all that did already register!

This year the Musikwoche is greatly battling for funding. We had to cut the t-shirts this year, as we always make a loss on them, so sorry for all of you that would have liked to buy one. We also very unfortunately were not able to fund the flight for Dr Steven Maier from the USA. As soon as we have a new lecturer for saxophone and Jazz Band, we will inform all of you.

Please keep supporting us, as cultural events are the first ones to die in economically challenging times like these! After having survived for 50 years and a spectacular 50th jubilee in 2015 it would be such a pity, if the Musikwoche had to close down due to lack of funding. Our main sponsor, the Bank Windhoek, cannot shoulder this great event alone, and they are still happy to carry on supporting us strongly, but we need more support from Namibians.

Yours in Music

Christiane Berker

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The 51st Swakopmunder Musikwoche 2016

Having recovered from the most exciting (and exhausting) 50th Jubilee last December, the planning for this year is in full swing.

For those that have not heard it through the press:

The Musikwoche is moving to Namib High School opposite of the church, where we always have our Sunday concert. This was necessary as we ran out of space (for more information please see our press release here).  Concerts will therefore also take place at the Hanjo Böhlke Aula of the Namib High School.

Registration starts on the 29th of July online, for those registering online and paying via EFT, these are our bank details:

Swakopmunder Musikwoche

Bank Windhoek

Account number: 800 300 9497

Bank code: 481 772

The following lecturers have already fully committed, the list will be added on, as we receive confirmations.

Our lecturers:

Musical Director: Alexander Fokkens, SA

Choir Master: Dr Andre Thomas, USA

Concert Band: Nici Coleman, SA

Junior Musical Director: Hendi Krog, SA

Jazz Band / Saxophones: Dr Steven Meyer, USA

Concert Master / 1st Violins: Denise Sutton, SA

2nd violins: Nicole D’Oliveira, NAM

Cello; Caleb Vaughn-Jones, USA

Oboe / Bassoon: John Rojas

2nd Brass / Trombone: Michael Nixon, SA

Assistant Choir: Theodore Cookson, NAM

Assistant 2nd Violins: Lwazi Mkula, SA

Assistant Cello: Lynne Dobson, SA

What program can we expect for this Musikwoche? Well, there is of course the obligatory waltz, this year we will hear Strauss jnr. “The Blue Danube” – an homage to Alexander Fokkens, who laid the foundation for the obligatory waltz with this very first one at his first appearance seven years ago. This year we are looking at the ballet and hence will hear the “Waltz of the Flowers” and the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”, both by Tchaikovsky. A second waltz will be the waltz from “Sleeping Beauty”, also by Tchaikovsky.

Additionally, planned is the “Serenade for Strings” – 2nd movement by Edward Elgar.

As always, we will have a joint Choir & Grand Orchestra piece, you will find more about that as a final decision has been taken.

The Concert Dates:

13.12.2015: Lecturer Concert, 19h00 at the Hanjo Böhlke Aula (Namib High School)

14.12.2015: Open Air Brass Festival, 16h00 at the Amphitheatre

14.12.2015: Jazz Concert, 19h00 at Haus der Jugend

15.12.2015: Junior & Ensemble Concert, 18h30 at the Hanjo Böhlke Aula (Namib High School)

16.12.2015: Final Concert, 19h00 at the Hanjo Böhlke Aula (Namib High School)

17.12.2015: Final Concert, 19h00 at the Hanjo Böhlke Aula (Namib High School)

18.12.2015: Church Concert, 10h00 at the Lutheran Church, Otavi st. no 9

Ticket sales:

As of the 1st of December you can order by phone every morning between 9h00 and 12h00, the cell phone number will be announced closer to the time.

As of the 8th of December you find us in the entrance of the Namib High School between 9h00 and 12h00 every morning (except Sunday, the 11th).

Ticket prices are N$ 80.- per ticket.

Looking forward to seeing you – for yet another fantastic music festival and the only of its kind!

Your Musikwoche Team

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Press Release 12.7.2016

Press Release 12.7.2016

During the past six years, the Musikwoche started to outgrow the Namib Primary School. As we enrolled more and more participants, added a Concert Band and increased our choir as well as the Junior Orchestra, we ran out of rooms at the NPS.

With our 50th Jubilee last year we literally burst at the seams, and rehearsal schedules became a giant puzzle, trying to allocate two big halls to five groups in demand. Facing the option to either start putting up tents on the school premises or move, we approached the Namib High School and were received with open arms.

Historically, in the Eighties, the Musikwoche was housed in Namib High School, but as Mr Kühlwetter and his wife were active at the Namib Primary School, all their instruments were there and it made sense to move there.

As the Namib High School is a great supporter of Arts and Culture and offer both Art and Design as well as Integrated Performing Arts as subjects, we are happy to enter into a fruitful and cooperative long-term relationship, hopefully interesting all musically involved learners from NHS to join the Musikwoche.

Our Concert Band will be very happy to finally get an adequate rehearsal hall, big enough so all the trumpets don’t blow out their ear drums!

Our heartfelt thank you goes to Namib Primary School, in particular to Mrs and Mr Wilke, who took care of the Musikwoche for many, many years and can now hopefully finally enjoy a December without the responsibilities they carried to make our stay as pleasant as possible.

Online registrations will start on the 29th of July, keep an eye on our website. We are looking forward to welcoming old and new participants for another exciting music festival in Swakopmund – of course supported by Bank Windhoek Arts Festival again!

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