The Swakopmunder Musikwoche is an annual music event taking place in the town of Swakopmund under the patronage of the German Evangelic-Lutheran church. Every December music professionals are brought from national and international institutions to instruct and assist young and old lay musicians from far and wide. The event normally lasts 9 - 10 days and culminates in a series of concerts offered to the public. The Swakopmunder Musikwoche is organised and run entirely by volunteers and is operated as a non-profit entity.

The very first Swakopmunder Musikwoche took place in December 1965, and apart from a very few years, we have been able to have one ever since. From a very small meeting of musical lay enthusiasts from Swakopmund and no public performances we have grown a lot! In 2010 we had 179 participants , lecturers and helpers and performed five concerts in total. In 2012 we had 268 participants, lecturers and helpers and performed five concerts in total.

We did it again! A fantastic Musikwoche 2011 came to an end with two stunning final concerts and standing ovations for both concerts - well done, musicians, lecturers, helpers and all others involved.

I wish to thank Alex Fokkens for his superb musical directorship and his excellent team work with the committee.

My thank you goes to all the lecturers that put in hard work, long hours and all their expertise to support and bring participants forward. You are a fantastic team and it is a priviledge to work with you!

A heartfelt thank you to my team: Ailly Namupala, Gladwyn Fischer and Michael and his stage crew - without you things would never have been as smooth and well-running as they were!

Thank you to the "Breakfast Crew", the crew that never complains, they come, they prepare the snack break with such love and they are always there! It is a very important part of the well-being of all participants!

A big thank you goes to Mrs and Mr Wilcke: Mrs Wilcke helps with all problems we may encounter with rooms and equipment of the school, the hall and the stage; Mr Wilcke tries to do the impossible every year - produce perfect light for the top and the bottom, the front of the stage and the very back, at the same time not shining light into musicians eyes... light is an art in itself, and he again did a great job!

And of course I want to thank all the participants - without you not a single sound would be heard at the concerts! Thank you for coming every year, for putting all your efforts in, for understanding that sometimes things just don't work out the way they were supposed to, for putting up with "bad-hair-days" of the organisers... 

I hope to see you all back in December next year!

Christiane Berker on behalf of the Musikwoche Committee

Organisational Director