OUR MISSION

Group of people working together on traditional drums in a room with a wooden door and a damaged wall.

The Norbert Himstedt Foundation was created to support musicians in Cuba through music education, instrument aid and cultural exchange.

Our focus is percussion — especially timpani and orchestral percussion — but our mission reaches beyond instruments alone. We believe that music can give people hope, discipline, confidence and perspective.

The idea for the foundation grew from Norbert Himstedt’s first visit to Cuba in the winter of 2025. As an experienced timpanist at the opera in Zürich and a dedicated mentor to young percussionists, he saw both the extraordinary musical talent of young Cuban musicians and the difficult conditions under which they study and practise.

At music institutions in Cuba, many students lack access to reliable, functional instruments and suitable materials. Timpani heads, mallets, sticks and other essential tools are often difficult to obtain. At the same time, many young musicians have limited access to the specific know-how required to prepare for professional orchestral work in Europe and other international contexts.

The foundation responds to this need in a practical and direct way.

Materials that are no longer used or sold in Europe — but are still functional — can have a second life in Cuba. Timpani heads that would otherwise be thrown away can make instruments playable again. Mallets and sticks with minor defects can still become valuable tools for students. Knowledge, experience and personal mentorship can help young musicians develop their technique, prepare orchestral excerpts and build confidence in their own future.

Norbert Himstedt is now also a guest professor for percussion at the Instituto Superior de Arte Havanna. Through this role, the foundation is closely connected to the musicians and institutions it supports. The goal is not abstract charity, but direct, respectful and sustainable help where it is needed.

The Norbert Himstedt Foundation stands for musical education, practical support and cultural exchange at eye level. It is independent, non-profit, donation-based and open to collaboration with musicians, institutions and supporters who share the same vision.

Our mission is simple:

To help young musicians in Cuba access the instruments, knowledge and encouragement they need to grow — musically, professionally and personally.

A young man with curly hair wearing a white shirt and a woman with light skin and glasses wearing a pink dress are in a room with wood-beamed ceiling and a large window, engaged in playing musical instruments, with another woman sitting in the background.
Old, rusted motorcycle frame and three rusty metal helmets on a speckled tile floor, with a blue wall and a red cabinet in the background.
Music room with drums, xylophone, keyboard, and spray bottle, with items on top of the piano, and a beige carpeted floor.
A silhouette of a football player running with a football against a sunset background.