Silvius von Kessel

Silvius Carlos Benedict von Kessel (* 20 February 1965 in Oldenburg, Germany) is a German organist, improviser and choirmaster.

Career

He is currently Cathedral Organist and Choirmaster of Erfurt Cathedral,[1] the capital of the Free State of Thuringia in Germany, as well as honorary professor of organ music at the Hochschule für Musik "Franz Liszt", Weimar.[2]

He is President of the festival Thüringer Bachwochen.[3] relating to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach who was born 1685 in Eisenach, Thuringia. The Thüringer Bachwochen festival is the biggest festival of classical music in Thuringia.[4] Silvius von Kessel is a member of the Artistic Direction of the BACH/LISZT organ competition.[5]

He studied organ music and church music at the Folkwang Hochschule Essen with Professor Gisbert Schneider from 1986 to 1991 passing his A Exam with distinction.[6] He continued his organ study from 1991 to 1994 in Paris with Professor Olivier Latry getting the "Diplôme de Concertiste" in 1994. In the same year he was appointed Cathedral Organist and Choirmaster of Erfurt Cathedral.[7]

Family

Silvius von Kessel is married to Christine Countess of Königsmarck and they have five children.[8] He is a cousin of the actress Sophie von Kessel.[9]

Writings/Musicology

Audio recordings

References

  1. "Domorganist Prof. Silvius von Kessel (German)". Bistum Erfurt. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  2. "Domorganist Prof. Silvius von Kessel". Hochschule für Music Franz List Weimar. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  3. "Der Verein (German)". Thüringer Bachwochen e.V. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  4. "Thüringer Bachwochen (German)". Tourist Information Thüringen. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  5. "Bach/Liszt Orgelwettbewerb (German)". Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  6. "Interpreten". Muenchner-orgeltage.de. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  7. "Silvius von Kessel". Kirchenmusik-erfurt.de. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  8. "Erfurter Domorganist bei Papstbesuch im Dom voll gefordert – Erfurt | Thüringer Allgemeine". Erfurt.thueringer-allgemeine.de. 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  9. James Wray and Ulf Stabe. "Sophie von Kessel Biographie - Stars". Monstersandcritics.de. Retrieved 2014-03-02.