Gerhard Weinberger

 

Professor Gerhard Weinberger enjoys an excellent reputation as a concert organist and conductor. Constantly in demand as a recitalist all over Europe, the U. S. and Asia, his wide repertoire spans more than four centuries. He has won particular acclaim for his performances of the organ music of Max Reger and J. S. Bach, whose complete organ works, played on the historic organs of Europe, he has recorded on twenty-three compact discs. His recordings are frequently featured on German Public Radio.

A native of Bavaria, Mr. Weinberger studied organ (with Franz Lehrndorfer) and church music at the Hochschule für Musik München. After winning top prizes at several competitions (most notably the ARD International Music Competition) and serving three years as organist and choirmaster at the Basilica St. Lorenz in Kempten, he was appointed Professor of Organ at the Hochschule für Musik München at the age of 27.
 
In 1974, after spending three years directing the choir of Basilica St. Lorenz in Kempten, Mr. Weinberger accepted a teaching position for organ and for church music at the Munich College of Music and was Professor of Organ there from 1977 to 1983. Since 1983, he has been Professor of Organ and Dean of the Department of Church Music at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold. A sought-after teacher, his students are regularly awarded top prizes in competitions and secure major positions.

Professor Weinberger has published editions of 18th-century organ and choral works, including the first complete edition of organ works of the eminent Bach pupil Johann Ludwig Krebs as well as the organ works of Robert Schumann. In addition to numerous specialized articles, Weinberger has also co-authored (with E. Kooioman and H. J. Busch) Zur Interpretation der Orgelmusik J. S. Bach, a comprehensive presentation of the knowledge gained in recent decades about the performance of J.S. Bach’s works for organ, using 18th-century sources.

A versatile musician and scholar, Prof. Weinberger regularly appears as conductor of numerous professional choral ensembles, most importantly the Deutsche Bach Vocalisten with whom he recorded J. S. Bach’s Motets.

Prof. Weinberger is a board member of the Neue Bach-Gesellschaft in Leipzig and the European Academy of Sciences.