Alexander Fokkens, Conductor
Alexander Fokkens’ extensive experience, both local and international, his professionalism, and his intense passion for music have led to him becoming one of the most sought-after conductors in South Africa
He has spent the last 20 years exploring ways to make music with people from all walks of life and a variety of backgrounds.
His conducting has seen him on many different podiums ranging from those in front of professional orchestras all over the world to string ensembles made up of 12 year old musicians. In each and every performance, residency or workshop, he strives to achieve his goal of creating a sense of community in the music making and engaging the souls of the performers in the final performance. People find the answers that they seek in life in the music that they experience, be it playing or listening. He believes that as an artist, it is his responsibility to help people on their individual journeys to find their answers.
Since returning from the USA in 2005, Alexander has been involved in many different areas of classical music in South Africa , and he currently holds a number of posts including Artistic Director and CEO of the Free State Symphony Orchestra, conductor of the Free State Youth Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Symphony Choir of Cape Town, Music Director and Conductor of the University of Cape Town String Ensemble and Symphonic Band and Resident Conductor of the University of Cape Town Symphony Orchestra.
Graduating from the University of Cape Town in 1998 with a BMus in Orchestral Studies (Double Bass), Alexander then went to America and furthered his studies at Texas Christian University, where he obtained his Masters in Double Bass performance and completed 3 years of Studies in Theory and Conducting.
Alexander lives in Cape Town with his wife, pianist Margaret Foxcroft, and their four children.
Hans-Peter Drobisch, Flute
Hans-Peter Drobisch was born in Bremen/Germany where he started taking music lessons at the age of eight. Soon after his studies at the Berlin University of Arts, with the flute being his main subject, he emigrated to Namibia where he worked at the College of the Arts for thirty-two years.
He appeared many times as soloist with the Namibia National Symphony Orchestra and served on its committee for nineteen years.
He is the founder of the Namibian Chamber Ensemble, which became immediately well-known for its baroque performances between 2000 and 2010.
Hans-Peter Drobisch has been lecturer and conductor for the flute ensemble and woodwinds at the “Swakopmund Musikwoche” many times and acted on its committee for five years. In 2018 he founded the Namibia Flute Ensemble for his advanced students.
Carissa Esslinger, voice and sopranino recorder
Carissa Esslinger was born in 2002 in Pretoria and moved with her family to Windhoek in 2004. In October 2020 she finished her career at DHPS receiving her Abitur.
Carissa started to play recorder in a group class in Grade 2, and since 2011 she has been a student of Johanita de Waal. In 2019 she passed the music performance diploma ARSM (Associate of the Royal Schools of Music) ABRSM. She is currently preparing for Trinity’s performance diploma ATCL. Carissa loves to sing since she was young. She started vocal training with Hermien Coetzee in 2017. In 2020 she passed Trinity Grade 8. Currently, she prepares for the Trinity College Advanced Certificate in Singing.
Carissa also plays piano and oboe. In 2017 she passed Grade 6 of Theory of Music. She received several prizes at COTA. In 2020 she was awarded with the COTA Prize of Excellence. This is her eleventh concert as a soloist accompanied by the NNSO.
Carissa enjoys swimming as well as art and reading. She loves spending time being together with her family and friends. In August she will start her studies in Europe.
Amy Afrikaner
Amy Afrikaner (26) was born and raised in Windhoek, Namibia.
She matriculated at Dawid Bezuidenhoudt High School in 2012. She is currently a 3rd year APA student at the College of the Arts.
She was a member of the well-known COTA Youth Choir under the baton of Fanie Dorfling.
Amy started with formal voice training with Esther Du Toit and later with Hermien Coetzee in 2020.
She sang the Trinity Grade 4 Singing Exam which she passed with Distinction obtaining 90% in 2020.
She is currently working towards grade 6 Trinity Singing Exam which she will do in October 2021. This is her first appearance as a soloist at the Baroque Festival.
Nadja Roxin and Silke Redecker
Nadja Roxin was born in Windhoek. She started taking flute lessons at the age of 11 with Hans-Peter Drobisch. She passed
her Grade 8 flute examination in 2010 with distinction. Nadja appeared many times as a soloist together with the NNSO. She is a member of the Namibian Flute Ensemble under the direction of Hans-Peter Drobisch.
After graduating from the University of Stellenbosch in 2015 with a Bachelor of Education, she furthered her studies in Germany, where she obtained a Masters in Early Childhood Studies and Social Pedagogy. Currently she is a primary teacher at the DHPS.
Silke Redecker is an 18-year-old student who has been playing the flute since grade 5. She started to play the instrument in her schools “Bläserklasse” and advanced to her school Orchestra in Grade 7. Since then, Silke has been a student of Hans-Peter Drobisch. In 2019 she got the opportunity to join the Namibia Flute Ensemble which is an ensemble of eight flutists. To broaden her musical knowledge, she has started piano classes in 2019 as well as Music Theory in 2018. She has played the piano for about one-and-a-half years and finished her Grade 6 Trinity Theory Exam in 2020.
Trudy Gertze
TRUDY GRACE JOANNE GERTZE was born and raised in Windhoek. She has a Degree in Geo-Information Technology from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
She became a member and soloist of the COTA youth choir in 2010. The choir won a World Championship at the World Choral Games of 2018 in South Africa.
Trudy founded an Acapella group in 2015 called the “Broken Metronomes”. They have performed at various events, as well as at the Namibian Annual Music Awards in 2017.
She co-founded a second singing group in 2020 called “Failed Trip”. They are taking part in “The Search” (a local talent competition). They are currently in the Top 14!
She started with Voice training classes with Mrs Hermien Coetzee in January 2016. She was awarded the Trinity College Advanced Certificate in Singing with distinction, and is currently busy preparing for the ATCL (Associate of Trinity College London) exam which she will sing later this year.
Trudy has been a regular soloist at both the Baroque and Concerto festivals held annually with the Namibia National Symphony Orchestra (NNSO).
She has also been performing in most of the Namibian Music Ensemble productions, and can be seen in the production, “Le Nozze de Figaro” currently available for live stream until end of March 2021.
Carin Strydom
Carin Strydom (16) was born in Windhoek and is currently a grade 10 learner at Windhoek High School.
She started her music career with recorder lessons at the age of 6 under the capable hands of Jolanda Amoraal. She began formal piano lessons at the age of 10 and is currently still a student of Ebbie Becker at COTA. Carin started cello lessons with Olga Jones at the age of 8 and is currently preparing for her grade 7 ABRSM exam. She studies theory with Bets Barnard and passed the grade 5 Unisa theory exam with distinction in 2020.
Carin sang in the St Georges Primary School choir, directed by Jolanda Amoraal. During these years she was given several opportunities to accompany the choir with recorder and cello. She also played in COTA beginners and intermediate concerts.
Carin is a ballet student at COTA under Zaandre du Toit and studies modern dance at the Anchen Wille Dance Academy.
Markus Beiler
Markus is 18 years old. He was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and grew up in Namibia, where he first attended the Delta School in Windhoek and then proceeded with homeschooling. He is currently busy completing his A-Levels. Since 2012 he has played the violin, being taught by two outstanding teachers. He started out with Mrs Bruys and thereafter went to Mr Jürgen Kriess. He loves playing in orchestras such as at the Musikwoche in Swakopmund.
Members of the Orchestra:
Violin 1:
Jürgen Kriess, Concert Master
Sophia Jeserschek
Eva Borkner
Ronaldo Kandume
Silvain
Violin 2:
Deborah Haindongo
Anneke van Rooyen
Markus Beiler
Inka von der Wense
Simone von Wietersheim
Irmgard Rannersmann
Viola:
Amy Aring
Vernon Sawyer
Violoncello:
Olga Jones
Morten Sauer
Johanna Gilck
Bärbel Drobisch
Rolf Adrian
Chembalo:
Johan Pieterse
