Marianna Erdtelt (joined 2024)
Marianna is a born Namibian from a small town called Gobabis. She grew up in a house where classical music was not only appreciated, but they all played different musical instruments. They all played in symphony orchestras at some stage during their tutoring years. Marianna played mainly clarinet, but also piano, recorder and guitar. She did ballet until the age of 28. Later also ballroom and modern dancing. She studied in Potchefstroom, specializing to teach language, drama and speech for the senior phase. Later she furthered her studies to adult literacy and numeracy as well as teaching junior art, psychology, and public speaking. During her 25-year career she taught from grade 1 to grade 11. She was in the hospitality industry running their own guesthouse next to the Zambezi River for 7 years until they moved to Swakopmund. Marianna is divorced, retired and keeps herself busy with multiple hobbies.
Dreshné Gilbert (joined 2025)
Dreshné is a pediatric occupational therapist dedicated to making a positive impact on children’s lives. She has been working in Swakopmund from 2023. Growing up with a love for dance and theatre, she has always been drawn to the performing arts. Her passion for classical music has been a significant part of her life since childhood, and in 2025, she joined the Cgals choir, singing second soprano. Dreshné is excited to nurture the musical part of her life and to dive deeper into classical music and vocal study.
Besides her love for singing, she enjoys immersing herself in reading, exploring various forms of art, and actively participating in church activities. Her musical journey, combined with her dedication to her profession, allows her to enrich her life and the lives of others through both healing and the arts.
Lisa-Anne Groenewald (joined 2024)
Lisa is born in Cape Town but moved to Walvis Bay after her father was offered a short term assignment in 1982. Thanks to the love her parents had for Walvis Bay, they never went back!
Her love for music started in school where she was part of the choir. She says music is more than sound, it is an art that brings peace to the soul. She knew about the Cgals for many years and knew that she would join them one day. God has given her a voice to glorify Him and it is wonderful for her to do this more often!
She and her husband Clive will be married for 29 years this year, and they have 2 adult sons. Lisa is a youth teacher at the Walvis Bay Baptist church and has been there for many years. She says she is a late bloomer, currently busy with her Honours in Business Administration and she also has a degree in Strategic HR management. As an HR professional it brings great joy for her to see people’s true potential.
Besides her love for singing, she loves gardening. To stick something in the ground and see it flourish is pure bliss for her! Lisa is looking forward to this wonderful new journey with the Cgals.
Isabella Haenisch (joined 2022)
Isabella, the eldest of four children was born in June 2007. She has always been a Swakopmunder and is currently a grade 10 scholar at PSS. She’s always been interested in art and has since pre-primary played a musical instrument and has taken part in theatrical activities. Isabella has played the piano since 2016 and has been taking classes with Wilna since 2020.
Apart from her musical interests, Isabella takes part in karate which she enjoys a lot. In her free time she enjoys to draw/paint and to read.
Ané Jacobsz (joined 2024)
Ané is 16 years old and in Walvis Bay Private School and is a proud member of the Cgals. She has been taking music lessons since grade 5 and plays grade 5 trinity piano. She is also busy with grade 4 ABRSM The Theory of music. She loves to listen to all kinds of music and loves the “Nictus Napso Kuns en Kultuur fees"
Her nickname is Neitjie or Langeraad. She loves cooking and baking and obviously loves chocolates.
Ané feels so honoured to be in the C-gals!
Karen Miller (joined 2004)
Karen is an Award-winning architect and runs her own Practice in Swakopmund. Her office ranked third in the country in 2016. The Cgals Chamber Choir has been her main after-hour activity since 2004. Singing, art, the outdoors and sports have always been her hobbies but there is not always time for everything. There will, however, always be time for SINGING!
Together with the Cgals choir she has enjoyed wonderful tours and competition participations. The choir has become a means through which members experience other wonderful cultures and environments all over the World. Members have made friends internationally and it has been a wonderful experience to be part of the growth of the choir. For this she is grateful to Wilna Liebenberg, the conductor, teacher, friend…and to all the Cgals ladies!
Emily Sparg (joined 2024)
Emily was born in 2009 in Windhoek. She spent her childhood years up until she was eight along the magnificent Zambezi River, where her grandparents ran a lovely lodge. Those years shaped her love for nature and the outdoors. In 2016, she and her family moved to Walvis Bay, and she started her schooling journey at Walvis Bay Private School. Emily has a deep passion for ballet and all forms of dancing, which allow her to express herself creatively. She also enjoys athletics, and sailing is one of her favourite activities to do. Being outdoors is important to her, and she cherishes the camping trips with her family. In 2024, she joined the Cgals choir, and it has quickly become a significant passion in her life, allowing her to connect with music and performance. Emily passionately believes in the saying, “Never miss an opportunity to do something great.” As she continues her journey, she strives to blend her love for nature, dance, and music into the vibrant tapestry of her experiences.
Ning Wei Shen (joined 2014)
Ning was born on the 6th of August 1999 in Shanghai, China. She grew up with her grandparents while her parents were in Namibia. She came to Namibia in 2010, and became a student at The International School of Walvis Bay.
Two years later, Ning started piano lessons with Ms Wilna Liebenberg and within a year she also started singing lessons. She was then auditioned to join the Cgals Chamber Choir, and participated the 9th World Choir Games in Soschi, Russia and in Tswane, South Africa.
Through music she found joyous and peace within the soul, so she decided to study music as one of her high school subjects. Later in 2016 in her matric year, she obtained a 100% score in Grade 3 Theory of Music at the University of South Africa (UNISA), and was awarded the Hennie Joubert Prize for Theory of Music, obtaining the highest mark for theory in Southern Africa. The same year she passed Cambridge IGCSE Level music with an A symbol. The following year she graduated with Cambridge AS-Level, and she is now taking a gap year for further studies in music. She already plans to study B.Mus at Unisa . She wrote Unisa Grade 5 Music Theory, played Trinity Grade 6 Piano and sang Trinity Grade 8.