Otto Kargl (Choral Conductor)

Born: 1957 - Gaal/Seckau (Steiermark), Styria, Austria.

The Austrian choral conductor, Otto Kargl, studied from from 1977 to 1984 at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Graz (church music, organ concert plasying, and music education). In 1982 he recived Award of the Bundesministeriums für Wissenschaft und Forschung (Federal Ministry for Science and Research). From 1990 to 1993 he participated in interpretations seminars of the Bachakademie und des Europäischen Musikfestes Stuttgart (Bach Academy and the European Music Festival) in Stuttgart. Here a decisive impulses regarding conducting technique aspects from John Eliot Gardiner, scientific expertise from Peter Gülke and above all a theological and spiritual dimension in the sacred music from Helmuth Rilling; important musical stimulation in courses of Josef Mertin (Early Music) and Joppich Godehard (Gregorian chant).

In 1984 Otto Kargl founded with fellow students, the Cappella Nova Graz (winner of the 1993 EBU Competition in Toronto and in 1997 Ferdinand Grossmann Award for exemplary performance of contemporary music) and in 1992, the Domkantorei St. Pölten.

From 1984 to 1992 Otto Kargl was Regional Kantor of the St. Pölten diocese and in from 1992 Domkapellmeister of St. Pölten. Since 1991, he teaches at the Konservatorium für Kirchenmusik der Diözese St. Pölten (Gregorian chant, choral conducting and choral singing).

Source: Cappella Nova Graz Website (November 2009) & Dom Musik Sankt Pölten) Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2010)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2010)

Otto Kargl: Short Biography | Cappella Nova Graz | Recordings of Vocal Works

Links to other Sites

Cappella Nova Graz: Leiter [German]

Otto Kargl - Domkapellmeister (Dom Musik Sankt Pölten) [German]]