Derek von Krogh new Artistic Director and Managing Director
23. June 2023
Derek von Krogh will be the new Artistic Director and Managing Director of the Pop Academy Baden-Württemberg. He will succeed Prof. Udo Dahmen as of September 1st 2023.
"The high quality and stylistic confidence in the training at the Popakademie Mannheim is encountered everywhere in everyday life in the industry. It is a great honor for me to be able to continue this highly impressive work of Udo Dahmen. I would like to focus on expanding international contacts, as well as greatly expanding the area of creative technologies and music software, which is so important today. The music profession is in a constant state of change, and it will continue to be the Academy's task to keep its finger on the pulse of the times and the technical status quo. Artistically, there can only be one credo: Encourage your own eye-catching signature," says Derek van Krogh. "I am very pleased about the election of the Supervisory Board and look forward to the joint task of continuing the excellent work of our predecessors and further developing the great potential of the Popakademie" - Michael Herberger, Business Director and CEO.
"I would like to extend a warm welcome to my successor Derek von Krogh at the Popakademie and wish him all the best for his start. The Supervisory Board and the search committee around State Secretary Arne Braun have succeeded in finding a qualified successor for my position. I would like to thank Hubert Wandjo and his successor Michael Herberger for the trustful cooperation. I had the unique opportunity to shape the founding of the Pop Academy and the content and direction of the past 20 years together with Hubert Wandjo," said Prof. Udo Dahmen.
Prof. Udo Dahmen has been part of the management team of the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg since its founding in 2003 and, as Artistic Director and Head of the Department of Popular Music, made a significant contribution to the success of the higher education institution for music business, creative industries and popular music for 20 years.
Born in Stuttgart, Germany, Derek von Krogh has many years of experience in music production, composition, arrangement and songwriting, and brings an exceptionally broad range of expertise in pop music practice and its various genres and formats, for which he has received multiple gold, platinum and Live Entertainment Awards.
For more details on the succession, please see the press release of the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg.