20 years of Popakademie

Petra Olschowski, Minister for Science, Research and the Arts, said:
"The anniversary was a very special occasion to honor the Pop Academy as an outstanding center for musical excellence and creative work. At the same time, we were able to celebrate and bid farewell to Udo Dahmen and Hubert Wandjo with great respect and gratitude. They have made this institution what it is today: an academy that radiates beyond the state borders!"

"The Popakademie is unique in its function of focusing and uniting creativity and innovation. To review the past 20 years at the festivities and to celebrate this together with artists, graduates and companions was a very special pleasure for me," said Udo Dahmen, Artistic Director and Managing Director of the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg.

"I have had the privilege of accompanying hundreds of Bachelor's and Master's students on their successful path into the music and creative industries and have thus been able to help build and shape the Popakademie's far-flung business alumni network. Looking back on the last 20 years and celebrating this farewell together with friends of the Popakademie has meant a lot to me," says Hubert Wandjo, former Managing Director and Business Director.

"We look back on a unique success story: The Pop Academy is a place of musical innovation and creativity, of exchange and networking. We offer students a unique platform to launch their careers. As a result, our alumni enjoy an excellent reputation, they are extremely well networked and celebrate great successes," says Michael Herberger, Business Director and Managing Director of the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg.

Petra Olschowski, Minister for Science, Research and the Arts of the state, as well as Dr. Peter Kurz, Mayor of the City of Mannheim, spoke words of welcome. The laudation for Hubert Wandjo was held by Dr. Florian Drücke, Chairman of the Board, Managing Director & CEO, Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI). The laudation for Udo Dahmen came from Prof. Martin Maria Krüger, President German Music Council. The musician Udo Lindenberg wished a good "Unruhestand".

Bands from the Popakademie performed in the evening: Konstantin Gropper (Get Well Soon) & Alex Mayr, Die Schlagzeugmafia, ok.danke.tschüss, Modulargruppe (electronic music), Eleanna Pitsikaki, Adina, ENGIN and Lori. Joris played a surprise concert.

The Popakademie is pioneering academic education in the German music industry and today enjoys national and international recognition. Thanks to the principle of dovetailing the content of the "Music and Creative Industries" and "Popular Music" departments, as well as the high level of practical relevance and proximity to companies in the music and creative industries, teaching at the Popakademie in Mannheim has set standards.
In 2017, the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg received the ECHO Award and the LEA Award for its successful work with young talent. Two years later, in May 2018, a study by the FU Berlin described the Popakademie's music business degree program as "pioneering," "exemplary" and "state of the art."

Images and information on 20 years of the Pop Academy at:
https://www.popakademie.de/de/ueber-uns/jubilaeum_20jahre
Recap anniversary celebration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU5hy6lfeug&t=2s
"