Meet Nantwin

Nantwin started playing the double bass at the age of eight, but ultimately chose to study engineering and build a career in business. After a decade optimising manufacturing operations for industrial and high-end product firms, he embarked on an entrepreneurial path.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Stellenbosch University and an MBA from IMD Business School in Switzerland.

FermataConnect is the perfect blend of his systems engineering expertise and his lifelong passion for classical music.

Meet Freya

Freya is an opera singer based in Frankfurt, Germany. Her musical journey began at the age of six with the violin, later leading her to study musicology at TU Dresden before completing her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Voice Performance at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich.

Her career has taken her to renowned stages such as the Opernstudio Zürich and La Scala in Milan, among many others.

Freya spends half the year away from home – and she knows the frustration of paying rent twice: at home and on the road. That experience inspired the idea behind FermataConnect.

About Us

FermataConnect is built by Freya and Nantwin Apffelstaedt – two siblings who share a deep love for music and a passion for solving real problems faced by classical musicians.

Growing up, music was a central part of both their lives. They know first-hand what it means to work as freelancers and travel for performances. While Freya chose a career on stage, Nantwin pursued a career in business – and together, they are combining their experience to create something meaningful for the classical music community.

Do they have all the answers? Not yet. But they are committed to figuring it out and building a platform that truly works for musicians.

Our Story

After many of Freya’s frustrations about finding appropriate and affordable housing while travelling for performances, she and Nantwin decided to explore whether there was a better way. Together, they researched the market, spoke with countless musicians, and discovered a clear opportunity to make a real difference.

What they found was simple yet powerful: by creating a trusted network where classical musicians can stay in each other’s homes, they could reduce costs, ease stress, and strengthen the sense of community within the industry. That insight became the foundation of FermataConnect.