Gunther Rost (Organ)

Born: 1974 - Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany

The German organist, Gunther Rost, studied with Günther Kaunzinger (Würzburg), and Marie-Claire Alain (Paris) and complemented his studies by taking master-classes with Daniel Roth, James David Christie and Jean Guillou. He has been awarded prizes for his performances in more than ten important organ competitions, including the Leipzig Bach Competition, the Dallas International Organ Competition, the ION Nuremberg, and Györ/Hungary. In 2002 he was awarded the "Bayerischer Kunstförderpreis" (Bavarian state award for the advancement of arts).

From 1998 to 2002 Gunther Rost taught organ performance and improvisation at the Hermann Zilcher Conservatory and at the University of Music in Würzburg; subsequently he received an appointment as professor of organ at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts Graz in Austria. Besides teaching at Graz University, he acts as jury member and teaches master classes, e.g. at the Moscow Tchaikowski Conservatory.

Gunther Rost performs worldwide and had engagements with such renowned ensembles as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Windsbacher Knabenchor. He has given guest performances in festivals such as the Styriarte, the Rheingau Musik Festival or Bachfest Leipzig.

German, Austrian and American radio stations have broadcast live recordings of his solo concerts. In addition, various German state broadcasting companies have been making productions with Gunther Rost. In close co-operation with the composer, Gunther Rost recorded Petr Eben's complete organ works for the Motette label.

At present Gunther Rost dedicates himself to a concert series with J.S. Bach's organ works to be performed within a time-frame of several years and in co-operation with the Austrian Broadcasting Company (ORF). This task also includes his own organ transcriptions of further J.S. Bach compositions.

Source: Gunther Rost Website (Photos: Copyright-Hinweis)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2009)

Gunther Rost: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

Gunther Rost - Konzertorganist (Official Website) [English/German]