Mathias Michaely (Conductor, Organ)

Born: 1963 - Saarbrücken, Germany

The German conductor and organist, Mathias Michaely, had his first experience in choral work with the Bach Choir in Saarbrucken and this aroused his interest in sacred vocal music. He got his first organ training in Saarbrücken with Gunther Hoffmann. From 1984 he studied Church music in Herford (Wolfgang Lüschen, H. Pardall) and Detmold (Adelheid v.d.Kooi-Wolf, Professor A. Wagner, Proessor K.-H. Bloemeke). In 1991 he was awarded with the A-level diploma. Interpretation courses with important organists and choir leaders completed his training, and in 1996 he was a winner in the international organ competition of Elburg, the Netherlands.

After full-time employment from 1992 to 1994 as Kreiskantor in Celle, Mathias Michaely took over in 1994 the post of Propsteikantor in Helmstedt and director of the Helmstedter Bachkantorei. In addition to churcn music activities at the Lutheran City Church he also was co-ordinator of educational programs and official organ consultant. His activity as organist and choir director include concert tours in his homeland and abroad, premier performances and CD recordings. The Helmstedter Bachkantorei and the Ostfälisches Vokalensemble under his direction have turned to the oratorio and a cappella literature from all eras.

Mathias Michaely is member of the board of the liturgical conference of Lower Saxony, Workshops, and since 1998 organ expert of the Evangelist-Lutheran Landeskirche in Braunschweig.

Source: Heiliggeistkirche Heidelberg Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (March 2005); Liner notes to the 2-CD album 'J.S. Bach - Johannes H. E. Koch: Markus-Passion BWV 247' conducted by Mathias Michaely (Prospect, 1998)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (March 2005, May 2005)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Mathias Michaely

Conductor

BWV 247

Links to other Sites

Heiliggeistkirche Heidelberg [German]