Photo (left to right): Prof. Markus Bellheim, Prof. Mario Nell, Prof. Lydia Grün, Dr. Bridget Rennie-Salonen, Martin Zenker, © HMTM

The University of Music and Performing Arts Munich (HMTM) has established a partnership with the music faculty of Stellenbosch University (SU) in South Africa. On June 5, 2023, Prof. Lydia Grün (President of HMTM) and Prof. Markus Bellheim (Head of the International Office of HMTM) met with Prof. Mario Nell (Dean of the Music Faculty of SU) and Dr. Bridget Rennie-Salonen (Head of the Woodwind Department of SU) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

Prof. Lydia Grün: "This new partnership lays the foundation for faculty and student exchanges, research and joint projects with Stellenbosch University, an educational institution that enjoys an outstanding reputation within South Africa."

Prof. Markus Bellheim: "The new partnership with Stellenbosch University is a great enrichment for HMTM. The planned mobilites of teachers and students will enable valuable exchanges of experience, and mutual acquaintance with the musical cultures in Germany and South Africa through master classes, workshops and joint concerts."

Stellenbosch University is located about 50 kilometres east of the centre of Cape Town. More than 100 years after gaining university status in 1918, SU now consists of 10 faculties with more than 30,000 students. SU's Faculty of Music is one of the most important educational institutions for music on the African continent.