Empowering Through Music Education

Diversity in Harmony

Swakopmunder Musikwoche aims to provide a comprehensive music educational service for learners and educators. We believe that our diversity is our strength, and through music, we can bring people together, fostering a sense of community and understanding.

The Importance Of Music

Musikwoche aims to offer music education to all learners and educators in Namibia, while also enhancing the capacity and expertise of the music education sector at all levels. The organization is dedicated to promoting musical education and raising awareness of its critical role through education, advocacy, and engagement.

Through Musikwoche, learners and musicians can come together to enjoy music, learn from each other, and develop a deeper appreciation for the significance of music in our world.

For over fifty years, the Swakopmunder Musikwoche has been a tradition. In 1965, musicians from different groups were invited to play music together for a week, marked the beginning of the Musikwoche. Despite facing challenges over the years, structural changes were made to ensure the of the event.

In December, a musical environment is established where individuals can enhance their musical skills and knowledge, participate in high-quality master classes, and play music together in diverse settings. The event usually features five concerts, culminating in a music church service at the Lutheran Church in Swakopmund which is the patron of the Swakopmunder Musikwoche.

The Program

The program provides musical training and social development opportunities to participants from diverse backgrounds from across Namibia, to help enhance their musical abilities, broadening their musical knowledge, and experience in performing with a large orchestra.

Percussion

Recorder

Flute

Clarinet

Saxophone

Piccolo

Bassoon

Oboe

Violin

Viola

Cello

Double Bass

Harp

French Horn

Trumpet

Trombone

Tuba

Soprano

Alto

Tenor

Bass

Meet Our Dedicated Instructors

Our team of instructors is passionate about nurturing musical talent and providing a supportive learning environment. They volunteer their time and efforts and are committed to helping students explore and develop their musical abilities to the fullest.

Hendi Krog

Musical Director & Orchestra Conductor

Hendi has been teaching violin and viola for the past 35 years with great success. Her students are prizewinners at Eisteddfods and Festivals, regularly appearing as soloists in concerto festivals.

Nicci Coleman

Brass Lecturer & Wind Ensemble Conductor

Nicci is a highly accomplished musician and educator with over three decades of experience in music instruction, performance, and direction and currently serving as the Director of Music at Kingswood College since 2019.

Osmond Owoseb

Choir Conductor & Percussion Lecturer

Osmond’s percussion journey is marked by his involvement with various ensembles, including the Youth Orchestras of Namibia, numerous Namibian choirs, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Namibia.

Xavier Cloete

Musical director - Youth Orchestra

Xavier Cloete holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Stellenbosch, obtained in 2011, with specialisations in solo bassoon performance and orchestral conducting. He completed his bassoon studies under the tutelage of the late Ingo Holland.

Almut Riedel

Flute Lecturer

I was born in Swakopmund, where my mother’s music school exposed me to various musical instruments and choir music from a very early stage. Since primary school, I have played the recorder, piano, cello, and flute.

Christiane Ast

Pianist

After a successful career as a music director near Münster, Christiane relocated to Swakopmund, Namibia, in 2001. Here she has become an active performer, and established the chamber ensemble "Trio Feminale.

Elifas Samuel

Clarinet Lecturer

Elifas Samuel has established himself as a prominent figure in the Namibian music scene and valued member of the Namibian National Symphony, where his expertise in performance is widely recognized.

Olga Jones

Cello Lecturer

Olga has a BMus honours degree from Wits University with cello and piano, a cello Teacher’s licentiate from UNISA, as well as a piano performer's licentiate from UNISA. Olga was cello lecturer at the Windhoek Conservatoire.

Jurgen Kriess

Violin Lecturer

Since 2007, Jürgen has been a Violin Lecturer at the College of the Arts in Windhoek. He serves on the Board of the Namibian National Symphony Orchestra and is its Concertmaster. Additionally, he has frequently lectured at the annual Music Week in Swakopmund.

Faustinus Nuutushi

Violin Lecturer

Faustinus studied violin with Rita Kaaps and Jürgen Kriess, piano with Dina Portgieter, music theory with Brahms and Johan Pieters, and church organ with the late Drikie Jankowitz. Faustinus has BA and a diploma in music from the University of Namibia.

Konrad Bader

Oboe Conducter

Konrad Bade was born in Switzerland in 1969, where he still lives today. He grew up on a farm alongside six siblings and was fortunate to enjoy a wonderful childhood. Music has always been part of his life, and together with all of his siblings, they remain involved in music alongside their professional careers.

Karl Philander

Accompanist for the choir

Karl Philander is a 26-year-old pianist and music educator whose musical journey began at the age of eight under Wilna Liebenberg. He later studied with Vera Malherbe, who remains his teacher, mentor and an important influence in his musical development.

Ndatoolewe Kandjungulume

Recorder Lecturer

In 2022, Ndatoolewe was elected as a lecturer for students at Swakopmund Musikwoche. In 2023, she achieved a diploma in all types of recorders from APC Tsumeb. In 2024, she was invited to Kally's Music Academy to become a recorder lecturer at the Oshana Youth Orchestra. Currently, she is pursuing her distance studies at the College of London Trinity in South Africa.

Mietze Dill

Cello Lecturer

Mietze started with piano at age 6, and cello at age 11 with Arend Brink in Bloemfontein. A year thereafter she commenced lessons with Anzél Gerber in Pretoria, who continued to be her cello mentor till the completion of her BMus degree (cum laude) at the University of Pretoria in 2010. She passed all her practical cello and theory of music exams with distinction.

Prof. Lourens Swartbooi

Choir Assistant

Lourens Fernando Swartbooi, born on 19 November 1998 in Keetmanshoop, Namibia, is a Namibian musician, conductor, music educator, arts advocate, and cultural leader. His work is rooted in the belief that music is a powerful instrument for education, healing, social transformation, cultural preservation, and youth empowerment.

Ingo Thape

Trumpet/Saxophone Lecturer

Ingo Thape is an accomplished trumpet player, conductor, and music educator with more than three decades of experience in instrumental teaching, ensemble direction, and the development of school music programmes. He studied trumpet in Cologne and Essen and has been teaching trumpet and all other brass instruments since 1989.

Inka von der Wense

Viola Lecturer

Inka is a violist with the Namibian National Symphony Orchestra (NNSO) and music teacher at DHPS Windhoek. She studied violin and classical voice in Würzburg and gained extensive orchestral experience in Germany and Italy. As a member of the NNSO Board, she is passionate about nurturing musical talent, promoting music education and supporting Namibia’s local music community.

Music has been an integral part of Inka’s life from an early age.

Karen Hess

Brass Assistant

Cape Town based musician, educator, tenor/bass trombonist. Classically trained under the auspices of the late Albert Engel but versatile to play different genres. She has always been actively involved in music and brass education-former Head of Brass at Cambridge High School in East London, Frank Pietersen Music Centre in Paarl, Brass facilitator at Music Van De Caab Community music making project in Franschoek. Former Junior Band director and educator at Cape Town Philharmonic Music Academy and currently Head of Brass at South African College Junior School.

Mpho Chuene

Percussion Lecturer

Mpho Chuene is a percussionist, music educator, and performer who holds a Bachelor of Music Honours (BMus Hons) degree from the University of Pretoria, where he majored in Music Education and Music Performance (Percussion).

As a professional freelance percussionist, Mpho has performed with leading South African orchestras, including the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, The Johannesburg Festival Orchestra, and The Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Selma Angala

Harp Lecturer

Her musical journey started when she was a kid in Oshikuku, where she took her very first violin lessons at the APC. That early spark changed everything for her, and music has been her whole world ever since. Over the years, she's had the privilege of teaching both violin and piano to many wonderful students. However, along the way, she completely fell in love with the harp. It has truly captured her heart and is now her main instrument and biggest passion.

Nicole D'Oliveira

1st Violin Lecturer

Nicky began her musical journey at the Swakopmund Musikwoche at seven years old, first participating on the recorder before quickly transitioning to the violin.

Growing up, her musical upbringing was profoundly shaped by her teachers - Antje Kühlwetter, Brunhilde Bruys, and Heinz Czech - who were absolutely instrumental during her primary and high school years.

Anja Badenhorst

Youth Recorder Lecturer

Anja grew up in Omaruru, where, like many children, she was introduced to music through the recorder in primary school. From the very beginning, she developed a genuine love for the instrument and quickly discovered that music would become an important part of her life. When Anja moved to Swakopmund for high school, her musical journey truly began to flourish.