He is - since 1995 - Organist and Choirmaster of Erfurt Cathedral. From 1995 to 2004 he has been Organ teacher at the Conservatoire Supérieur Franz Liszt in Weimar ("Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar"). In 1995, he founded the organ concert series "Internationale Orgelkonzerte Dom zu Erfurt" and the "Studenten-Orgelkonzerte" and he is also the Artistic Director of these series. Since that time he is Diocesan Commissioner for church music and organ expert of the diocese of Erfurt. Since 2002 he is Co-founder of the concert serie "Erfurter Kirchenmusiktage" taking place every year´s september in Erfurt Cathedral, St. Severi, Predigerkirche and Augustinerkirche in Erfurt. This concert serie is lead in ecumenical collaboration.

He has studied Catholic Church Music at the Conservatoire Supérieur Folkwang in Essen ("Folkwang Hochschule Essen") under Prof. Gisbert Schneider and Prof. Dr. Godehard Joppich, winning a succession of special distinctions and scholarships.

He has also studied organ and improvisation with Prof. Olivier Latry, and in 1994 was awarded the "Diplôme de Concertiste" in Paris.

Silvius von Kessel is founder and head of the "Internationaler Orgelwettbewerb zu Erfurt ". He is - since Summer 2004 - President of the "Thüringer Bachwochen", a society which organizes the most important festival of Baroque Music (especially Johann Sebastian Bach) in Thuringia. Silvius von Kessel leads an extended international career as a concert organist - also as an outstanding improviser - giving concerts in prestigious places all over the world. There are radio and television broadcasts with him and CD recordings.

Contact details and further information

E-mail Silvius von Kessel

For further details, see Silvius von Kessel