Opening concert

Program: Works by M. Praetorius, J. S. Bach and improvisations
Admission: free, donations requested

Sietze de Vries is organist at the Martini Church in Groningen, professor of organ and theory teacher at the Prince Claus Conservatory there and is internationally active as a concert organist. The focus of his work is on the craft of improvisation in combination with old organs. To this end, he has developed his own teaching method based on the old masters.

This method can now also be followed online and has many followers internationally.

Sietze de Vries himself studied with Wim van Beek, Jan Jongepier and Jos van der Kooy, among others. He has won 15 prizes at organ competitions, including "l'Europe & l'Orgue" and the Haarlem International Improvisation Competition.

As a sought-after player, excursion leader, teacher, jury member and speaker, Sietze de Vries not only travels throughout Europe, his work also extends to the USA, Canada, Russia, Australia and South Africa. Sietze de Vries is the permanent répétiteur of the North Netherlands Choir School and works in this capacity together with his wife, conductor Sonja de Vries. The Roden Girl Choristers enjoy an excellent reputation as ambassadors of Anglican church music, but also demonstrate the importance of nurturing young talent. In addition to the above-mentioned activities, Sietze de Vries is active as editor of the trade journal Het Orgel and writes extensively on improvisation, organ building and church music.

The concert is sponsored by: Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz, Die Braunschweigische Stiftung

Program: Works by J. S. Bach, J. G. Töpfer and improvisations
Reception with cold buffet in the community hall from 6 pm
Admission: free, donations requested

Martin Kohlmann (*1984) studied church music (M. Mus.) with a focus on organ literature, choral/ensemble conducting (M. Mus.) and music theory (M. Mus.) at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media.

He works as a freelance organist and choirmaster and teaches music theory and aural training at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, the Berlin University of the Arts and the University of Hildesheim. As an organist, he cultivates an extensive repertoire spanning all epochs.

He regularly performs challenging choral music with the professional ensemble Vokalwerk Hannover, which he founded in 2019; large-scale choral symphonic works are another focus of his repertoire. Numerous CD, video and radio recordings document his versatile artistic work. In the field of systematic music theory, Kohlmann conducts research at the interface of music and mathematics (habilitation 2016, Göttingen), physics (diploma 2009, Braunschweig), linguistics and philosophy (including musical intertextuality, time phenomena in music, geometry and harmony), with conference contributions in Basel, Salzburg, Freiburg, Cologne, Detmold, Cottbus and Lübeck, among others. Compositions and new editions have been published by Dohr, Strube and Ed. Ferrimontana, among others, and music education and academic articles have appeared in Organ - Journal für die Orgel, Forum Kirchenmusik and Musica Sacra, among others.

The concert is sponsored by: Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz, Die Braunschweigische Stiftung

Program: Works by D. Buxtehude, S. Scheidt, J. P. Sweelinck, C. P. E. and J. S. Bach
Admission: free, donations requested

Christian Barthen (*1984) is organist and artistic director of music at Bern Minster, organ professor at the Bern University of the Arts (HKB) and an international concert organist.

He was already a junior student at the Hochschule für Musik Saar during his school years. After graduating from high school, he completed extensive studies in organ, piano and harpsichord as well as Protestant church music and music education in Saarbrücken, Paris and Stuttgart.

Numerous prizes and awards at renowned organ and music competitions, including the "Johann Sebastian Bach Competition" in Wiesbaden, the International Organ Competition of St. Maurice d'Agaune (Switzerland) and the world-renowned "Grand Prix de Chartres" (France), opened up an extraordinary concert career for him. Now one of the most established and prominent names of his generation, his engagements regularly take him to many churches, cathedrals and concert halls throughout Europe, South America, Russia and the Far East.

Guest appearances 2024/25: Munich Cathedral, Cologne Cathedral, Fribourg Cathedral, Speyer Cathedral, Lausanne and Fribourg Cathedrals, Stuttgart Collegiate Church, Fraumünster Zurich, Christuskirche Mannheim, Kreuzkirche Dresden, Locarno Collegiate Church, organ festivals in Bergen and Copenhagen, Bratislava State Radio and many more.

Christian Barthen's organ repertoire includes central and essential works from all eras and styles. He also performs transcriptions and arrangements, such as Liszt's Sonata in B minor or Mendelssohn's Variations sérieuses op. 54, as well as new and contemporary music (world premieres and recordings).

As a soloist and conductor, he has explored the works of Johann Sebastian Bach in a special way, including the Art of Fugue, the Goldberg Variations, the Musical Offering, the Christmas Oratorio, the St. John Passion, the Magnificat, over 20 cantatas, various harpsichord concertos, the 5th Brandenburg Concerto and the Four Orchestral Suites. In 2010, he performed the Six Trio Sonatas for organ from memory.

Radio and television productions have been made for various ARD, SRF, RTVS and Radio France broadcasters. As a recording artist for the publishers Naxos Records and ifo/Organ, he has released four commercial CDs, primarily with works by Max Reger (opp. 7, 29, 33, 40, 59, 60, 63, 135b and the School of Trio Playing).

Christian Barthen has been active as a church musician since his youth. From 2003 to 2012, he was assistant to Prof. Theo Brandmüller at the Ludwigskirche in Saarbrücken, among others. Between 2015 and 2020, he worked as cantor and organist of the historic Linke organ (1906) at the Ev. Stadtkirche in Giengen an der Brenz. From 2020, he directed the traditional church music at the main Protestant church of St. Anna in Augsburg. On November 1 and for the autumn semester of 2022, he was appointed successor to Prof. Dr. h.c. Daniel Glaus at Bern Minster and the Bern University of the Arts (HKB). Expert activities and guest lectureships have taken him to seven music academies and universities in Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, Colombia and Finland. He has also served on juries and commissions for international competitions as well as ecclesiastical and academic appointments.

Christian Barthen holds various honorary posts and has been involved in the Rotary Foundation for several years. He lives with his family in Neuenegg BE.

The concert is sponsored by: Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz, Die Braunschweigische Stiftung

Works: by J. S. Bach and others.
Admission: free, donations requested

Aaron Triebler comes from Hanover and began his musical career at the age of five on the piano, which was complemented by the organ at the age of 13. At the age of 16, he passed the church music C examination (for organ and choir conducting) in the diocese of Hildesheim. He has won many prizes in various categories at the national "Jugend musiziert" competitions.

After being accepted into the Institute for the Early Promotion of the Musically Gifted (IFF) at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (HMTMH), he studied organ with Prof. Emmanuel Le Divellec (Hanover/Basel/Paris). After studying to become a teacher (organ with Prof. Le Divellec), he is currently studying church music at the university there. Master classes with professors Martin Sander, Tomasz Adam Nowak, Martin Schmeding, Martin Sturm and Oliver Latry provided new impetus. A scholarship from the DAAD ("German Academic Exchange Service") enabled him to study organ (with Yoann Tardivel, among others) in Toulouse, France.

In addition to his studies, Aaron Triebler gave concerts on large organs from an early age; he also works as an organist at various Catholic and Protestant churches in Hanover and the surrounding area. He is also a welcome continuo partner (organ, harpsichord). In the remaining time he plays double bass in various orchestras, including the Hanover Symphony Orchestra.

The concert is sponsored by: Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz, Die Braunschweigische Stiftung

Works: Works by D. Buxtehude, J. S. Bach, J. Brahms and J. G. Töpfer
Admission: free, donations requested

Martin Kohlmann (*1984) studied church music (M. Mus.) with a focus on organ literature, choral/ensemble conducting (M. Mus.) and music theory (M. Mus.) at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media. He works as a freelance organist and choirmaster and teaches music theory and aural training at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, the Berlin University of the Arts and the University of Hildesheim.

As an organist, he cultivates an extensive repertoire spanning all epochs. He regularly performs challenging choral music with the professional ensemble Vokalwerk Hannover, which he founded in 2019; large-scale choral symphonic works are another focus of his repertoire. Numerous CD, video and radio recordings document his versatile artistic work. In the field of systematic music theory, Kohlmann conducts research at the interface of music and mathematics (habilitation 2016, Göttingen), physics (diploma 2009, Braunschweig), linguistics and philosophy (including musical intertextuality, time phenomena in music, geometry and harmony), with conference contributions in Basel, Salzburg, Freiburg, Cologne, Detmold, Cottbus and Lübeck, among others. Compositions and new editions have been published by Dohr, Strube and Ed. Ferrimontana, among others, and music pedagogical and scholarly articles have appeared in Organ - Journal für die Orgel, Forum Kirchenmusik and Musica Sacra, among others.

The concert is sponsored by: Stiftung Braunschweigischer Kulturbesitz, Die Braunschweigische Stiftung