It was with great dismay and sadness that we heard of Gerda Mayer’s death. She had been an employee of the Festival since 1978 and a colleague who was held in high esteem by everyone. She was initially employed in the Artistic Works Office, later in the Press Department, and since then has been in charge of special projects for the Festival management. Gerda Mayer was an extremely modest colleague who always identified fully with the Bayreuth Festival. We will miss her very much.