New music school strikes a chord in Lüderitz

When Melzedeck Hammond arrived in Lüderitz in 2023, he quickly decided the harbour town was where he wanted to build his future.

The 33-year-old musician and sound engineer said he saw an opportunity to establish both a sound company and a music school, believing they could make a lasting contribution to the community. "I instantly knew this was the place where I wanted to establish a sound company and music school because they are such important tools in people's lives. I did my homework, and the community encouraged me to set up shop in the harbour town," he said.

Hammond initially opened his music school at Faith Valley near the lagoon before relocating to more central premises. "I am excited because my dream, which started in 2023 here in Lüderitz, is now becoming a reality. I carried it in my heart and talked about it for years," he said.

His business, MJH Live Sound and Recording, offers bass guitar, classical guitar, piano, keyboard and saxophone lessons for children and adults. He also plans to introduce percussion classes. "I started with a large group of students, and we continue to grow. Soon we will hold our first concert to showcase their progress to the Lüderitz community. There is a lot of talent here. We just need to unlock and develop it properly," Hammond said.

Born in Rehoboth, Hammond attended JTL Beukes Primary School before continuing his education at Dr Lemmer Secondary School. He later moved to Windhoek and then to Cape Town, South Africa, where he studied music and sound engineering at the College of Audio Engineering.

He credits his family's strong musical background for shaping his passion. "Music runs through my veins. My family loves music, and I was always surrounded by it. My father, Cedric Hammond, who is my role model, was a phenomenal guitarist and musician. My grandmother, Martina Hammond, was an oralist. My maternal grandfather, Karel Hochtritt, played the clarinet and trumpet, while his brother, Phillip Hochtritt, was a saxophonist and a member of the army band," he said.

Hammond describes himself as a versatile musician with an appreciation for a wide range of musical genres, although the drums remain his favourite instrument. "Alex Acuña inspired me as a child. As a teenager, I was taught by Lebohang Mothabeng at the Conservatorium in Windhoek. Pianist Howard Dumeney also influenced me, alongside guitarists George Benson and Jonathan Butler," he said.

In addition to music tuition, Hammond's company provides sound equipment for events, including microphones, speakers, bass bins, analogue and digital mixers, monitors and in-ear monitoring systems for musicians.

He said he recognised a gap in the market after noticing that event organisers in southern Namibia often had to source sound and staging equipment from Windhoek. "I realised this was one of the services lacking in the south. I also have in-ear monitors for musicians and plan to add more equipment as the business grows," he said.

The company caters for a range of private and public events, with Hammond saying he offers flexible pricing while the business establishes itself. "This is a brand-new venture, and I am flexible when it comes to prices," he said.