Matthias Maierhofer

Education

Matthias Maierhofer, born in 1979 in Graz, Austria, received his initial musical training under Karl Schmelzer-Ziringer. He later studied organ, early music, and church music at institutions in Graz, Freiburg, Leipzig, and the Schola Cantorum in Basel.

His teachers included Arvid Gast, Andrea Marcon, Kurt Neuhauser, and Martin Schmeding. He completed his studies with a soloist diploma with distinction from the University of Music Freiburg.

Concerts & competitions

In 2007, Matthias Maierhofer won the Pachelbel Competition in Nuremberg, one of the most prestigious international organ competitions. He also received prizes at the International Franz Schmidt Organ Competition in Kitzbühel (2008), the International Bach Competition in Arnstadt (2007), the Nijmegen International Organ Competition (2006), and the M.K. Čiurlionis International Organ Competition in Vilnius (2003).

An active concert performer, he has appeared at major festivals across Europe, the USA, Russia, Japan, and South Korea.

Career

As both a soloist and continuo player, he has collaborated with ensembles such as the Dresden Kreuzchor, the Leipzig Thomanerchor, the Staatskapelle Dresden, the Staatskapelle Halle, and the Pauliner Baroque Orchestra. He has contributed to CD productions and publications for Edition Helbling, with recordings of his concerts available via various radio broadcasters and labels such as Ambitus and Ambiente.

Teaching

From 2009 to 2013, he led an organ class at the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University of Music and Theatre in Leipzig.

In 2013, Matthias Maierhofer succeeded Prof. Dr. Gerre Hancock as Professor of Organ and Church Music at the University of Texas at Austin (USA), where he was named Dean’s Fellow in 2015 in recognition of his pedagogical achievements and awarded the Ducloux Fellowship by the College of Fine Arts.

Today

In the summer semester of 2016, he accepted a professorship in organ at the University of Music Freiburg and was simultaneously appointed Cathedral Organist of Freiburg Minster.