Kerstin is 60 years old and works as an office communications specialist. Born in Burgstadt, she is a volunteer at various Chemnitz 2025 events; among other things, she launched the countdown to the Capital of Culture year together with Lord Mayor Sven Schulze and other guests.
MDR um 4, on 28 November 2025 - live from the Capital of Culture Christmas market
It all started with a phone call from Mareike Holfeld, KuHa's press officer, on Friday, a week before the planned programme on MDR. Mareike asked me if I had the time and inclination to report on our volunteer editorial team in the programme and if she could pass on my contact details. Of course I said yes, because it's an honour to do marketing for our volunteer reports and I'm sure there won't be another opportunity like this. On Tuesday, Stefan Ganß, the presenter of the MDR programme, called me and asked me a few questions that he thought were relevant for the programme. We arranged to meet on Friday at 4pm at the pyramid at the Chemnitz Christmas market. I was to be joined by two other volunteers, Cathleen Nobach and Danny Weigelt, to report on the programme.
The three of us were at the pyramid at the former Kaufhof building at 4 p.m. on the day in question, but there was no MDR team in sight. Then we remembered that our Christmas market had two more pyramids, so we went looking for the MDR staff there. Then we spotted people with big cameras. We introduced ourselves, said we were the volunteers and were told: "We're waiting for you." Now we had found each other. MDR had had a container set up between the many Christmas market stalls, where the technology, control room and make-up were located. The make-up artist gave us a quick hand and then we were supposed to arrive at the filming location, opposite the Bimmelbahn. There we met Stefan Ganß, the presenter of the programme, for the first time. He discussed the details with us again and when we would be on the programme, but he didn't tell us in advance exactly what questions he would ask us. There was a half-hour live report from the Capital of Culture Christmas Market. The presenter spoke to citizens who happened to be passing by, to mulled wine vendors, live images of Chemnitz were shown from above with a drone and small contributions from the KuHa were repeatedly played in. Then the director signalled that it was our turn. The presenter first congratulated Danny on the "Tourism Heroes" award, which the Free Walking project had received. Danny talked about how the idea came about and how great people have responded to the Saturday tours. Then it was my turn and I was allowed to briefly report on our editorial work. Unfortunately, the time was far too short. I would have liked to tell a lot more. After the programme, Stefan Ganß told us that the voice in his ear had always caused him stress and that, if it had been up to him, he would have liked to take more time for us. Cathleen moved back to Chemnitz four years ago and told us how she sees her city and how proud she is that we are the Capital of Culture. After a few minutes, our big performance was already over and it was great! We then listened to the words of our mayor, Mr Sven Schulze, and the initiator of the "Ostgaragen", who read from his guest book. Suddenly the presenter came up to us again and asked if we could make a closing statement in the programme. If we wanted to, we could stay a little longer. Then the camera panned over to us and I was asked why the people who were watching this programme out there should come to Chemnitz. Of course, I recommended the big KuHa closing event the next day and the wonderful Chemnitz Christmas market. Then the half-hour live broadcast was over and the programme was "in the bag", as the MDR team said. We contributors were invited by the presenter for a mulled wine and we all spent the early evening together at the beautifully illuminated Christmas market, enjoying pleasant conversations.
