BIOGRAPHY

The organist, pianist, composer and musicologist, Gottfried Thore Drywa, was born in a family of musicians. After completing a master in German studies and musicology, he studied composition in Zurich with Isabel Mundry and followed master classes with Helmut Lachenmann and Klaus Huber. At the Rotterdam classic academy he studied organ and improvisation, concluded his concert exam towards the French romantic and modern organ repertoire with Ben van Oosten, piano with Lazlo Hortêy. Further studies followed in Paris with Marie-Claire Alain, participating successfully at international competitions, attended master classes with u.a. Daniel Roth, Jean Guillou and Olivier Latry.

Gottfried Thore Drywa published different books focusing on scientific questions of language and music, Johann Sebastian Bach and history of literature and music. As a composer he concentrates on music theatre and opera. As an interpret he plays a large repertoire, that includes pieces of any style from the Renaissance to the Modern time.

Since 1998 he is performing regularly organ concerts in u.a. Canada, France, Germany, Lettland, Netherlands, Polen, Switzerland and USA. He has been invited to International Organ-Festivals performing inter alia the complete organ works of César Franck, Maurice Duruflé and Jehan Alain. Furthermore he is performing a large number of improvisation concerts with renowned soloists (bassoonist, Clarinettist and singers). He is completing his musical activities towards numerous transcriptions of orchestra pieces like especially the symphonies and symphonic poems of Jean Sibelius.

"He is an extremely strong and impressive concert player combining technical precision and brilliance with a deep musical veracity." (Sächsische Zeitung)

Please find also more information about the work and life of Gottfried Thore Drywa at www.gottfried-drywa.com