Teaching beyond the notes: shaping sound, shaping lives

George Werner was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Cape Town (UCT) during the Faculty of Humanities’ second ceremony on 30 March 2026.

At a time when access to musical knowledge was scarce, Werner chose a different path – one rooted in sharing, documenting, and teaching. From performing alongside leading musicians to creating learning materials now used in schools, his work has carried musical knowledge across generations.

For Werner, music has always been more than sound. It is a vehicle – a way to teach curiosity, and a way to understand life.

A teacher, an archivist, a lifelong learner, still in pursuit of knowledge, still passing it forward.

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