Born: Lahnstein am Rhein, Germany

The German conductor, Michael Reif, studied at the Universität Koblenz school music with piano as speciality. He finished the state examination with honour and continued his studies at the Folkwang-Hochschule, department of Duisburg, with the subjects of piano and singing. Following that he study from 1987 to 1990 choir directing at the Musikhochschule of the Saarlandes. He finished the artistic maturity examination with Professor Volker Hempfling with honour.

From 1990 to 1999 Michael Reif led the Musikschule of the city Trier as a director and as artistic leader the international master-classes Trier and the die Festlichen Musiktage Trier (festive music days Trier). Since 1999 he is active mostly in Köln, at the Rheinischen Musikschule, he leads the Rheinsh branch of music of the Rheinischen Musikschule/Humboldt-Gymnasium. He is considerably involved in the training of young conductors. In 1996 he was invited as a lecturer to Markoberdorf by Europa Cantat, the 1^st European academy of young choir leaders. He leads regularly conducting courses in Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Michael Reif leads the Gürzenich-Chor Köln and since February 2000 the Kölner Kurrende, first in replacement for Elke Mascha Blankenburg who got sick, and since February 2001 permanently. In 1995 Michael Reif gave his debut in the Kölner Philharmonie and performed the cycle "Trionfo" by Carl Orff with big success. Since then he is regular as a conductor at the Kölner Philharmonie, at the Mendelssohn-Tagen in Koblenz, at Festlichen Musiktagen Trier and at the Festival Ascoli Piceno/Italy as a guest.

Source: Kölner Kurrende Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2005)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2005)

Michael Reif: Short Biography | Kölner Kurrende | Recordings

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Musikalische Leitung - Michael Reif (Kölner Kurrende) [German]

Kölner Kurrende (AK Kölner Chöre) [German]

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