Born 1963 in Strallegg, Styria. First instrumental lessons with his grandfather, later piano and organ at the Bischöfliche Gymnasium in Graz, where he was a house organist and chorister. Became acquainted with the great oratorio literature while in the Grazer cathedral choir.
!985 Diploma in church music (organ, conducting, singing, composition), passed with distinction, at the Graz University of Music, as well as studies in solo singing and theology.
From 1985 music assistant at Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral under Director of Music Peter Planyavsky.
From 1985 to 1988 study of organ performance at the University of Vienna, finishing with Diploma.

From 1991 to 2005 Domkapellmeister (Director of Cathedral Music) at St. Stephen’s Catheral in Vienna.
Responsibilities and activities there: artistic and organizational direction of all ensembles at the cathedral in liturgy and concerts: Kantorei, vocal ensemble, Cappella Albertina, cathedral choir, soloist ensembles, Choralschola, cathedral orchestra, baroque orchestra J. J. Fux;
cooperation with ORF broadcasting and television – from 1998 live broadcasts on Radio Stephansdom every Sunday.

In 1994 he acquired the degree of Magister artium at the Wiener Musikuniversität (Vienna University of Music). Dissertation topic: “The situation of contemporary composition in church music between 1970 and 1980 in Austria” 

Since 2002 teaching at the Vienna Musikuniversität (organ improvisation, liturgical organ playing, vocal ensemble, etc.) and at the Vienna Diocesesan Conservatory (organ, ecclesiastical composition etc.)

Since September 2005, artistic director of the Concert Association musica.sacra.wien.
In May 2006 he was awarded the Golden Distinguished Service Order of the Republic of Austria.

Since August 2006, artistic director of the Augustinus Festival in Stift Vorau, Styria.

Since 2006 intense activities in organ playing (Concerts and Liturgy), focus on improvisation in different styles.

Since 2010 initiator and artistic director of the Series of Vocal-Music VOCuMENTA
at the Otto Wagner Church, Steinhof, Wien

Debut as conductor of the Wiener Hofmusikkapelle in September 2010.

Since 2010 Organist at the Vienna’s Franziscan Church with performings at the Wöckherl-Orgel from 1642 (Organ presentations, concerts, Liturgy)

Portfolio

Concerts conductor and organist within Austria and abroad.

Organ: Compositions by Frescobaldi, Muffat, Kerll, Buxtehude, Couperin, Clerambault, Bach, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Reger, Schmidt, Messiaen, Heiller etc.;  Improvisations in different styles of music as soloist and together with other musicians and singers.

Conducting: The other focal point of his work is cultivation of the entire range of sacred music, particularly the great oratorical literature.
Bach’s St. Matthew and St. John Passions, the Christmas Oratorio, cantatas; Händel’s “Messiah”; numerous masses of Mozart, the Requiem, the Great Mass in c minor; Haydn’s “Creation” and the great masses; “Elijah” by Mendelssohn; “A German Requiem” by Brahms; Masses and “Te Deum” by Bruckner; Schubert’s Masses in E flat major and A flat major; Poulenc’s “Gloria”, and more; besides debut performances as the “Stephanusoratorium” by Heinrich Gattermeyer, which was composed for “Johannes Ebenbauer and the Dommusikverein”.

Composer of music for various occasions and instrumentations (for example “Psalm…”, Lukaspassion, Sanctus – Benedictus, Lukaspassion II, Alpha&Omega)

Co-initiator and juror of many years standing of the Bishop Slatkonia composition competition for new liturgical music with international announcement.
Instructor and leader of advanced training activities for organ and improvisation, conducting, choral conducting, vocal studies, and new spiritual song.

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