Alois GLASSNER

Alois Glassner is one of the most renowned choral conductors in Austria. He received his first musical education in the grammar school of Stift Melk, followed by various studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where he attended courses in  Church Music, Organ, Conducting, Composition and Vocal Pedagogy, as well as Choral Conducting, taught and guided by the Swedish ‘pope of choir’ Eric Ericsson in Stockholm and London. In 1987 Glassner founded the Hugo Distler Choir Vienna, which developed into one of the most outstanding choirs of the country within its ten years of existence.

In the years between 1992 and 2005 Alois Glassner held the position of church music director at St Augustine’s church in Vienna, which has long been known for its outstanding church music tradition. From 2003 to 2020 Alois Glassner was the choir director of the Salzburg Bach Choir. Under his direction the ensemble became a long-time partner of important festivals (Salzburg Festival, International Mozarteum Foundation, International Mozart Week, Salzburg Festival Whitsun) and, in recent years, worked together with highly successful orchestras, such as the Vienna Philharmonics, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, and Camerata Salzburg, and well-renowned conductors like Riccardo Muti, Sir Roger Norrington, Ivor Bolton, Marc Minkowski, Daniel Harding, Leopold Hager and Gerd Albrecht.

As a conductor, Alois Glassner has worked with a number of orchestras, including the orchestra of Vienna Volksoper, the Mozarteum Orchestra and Camerata Salzburg. As a guest conductor he has been invited to many countries within Europe and beyond. He is also internationally active as juror and guest lecturer of master classes, most recently in Hungary and China.

Alois Glassner started teaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna in 1991. In 2004 he was promoted to professor of conducting at Anton Bruckner institute, which he headed until 2018. In the fall of 2018 he became professor of choral conducting at the institute of conducting. Since then he has dedicated himself to establishing a new branch of study for choral conducting.

As conductor of the Webern Chamber Choir he performs numerous concerts throughout the year, including tours abroad (Choral Bridges). Glassner passes on his knowledge at a number of seminars and master classes on a national and international level. 
 

Contact: glassner@mdw.ac.at