Biography:

Samuel Kummer (27 February 1968 – 23 April 2024) was a German church organist, from 2005 to 2022 at the Frauenkirche in Dresden. He played concerts internationally and taught at the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Dresden from 2007.

Life

Kummer was born in Stuttgart.[1] He studied Church music at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, organ with Christoph Bossert [de], Werner Jacob and Ludger Lohmann, and specificall organ improvisation with Willibald Bezler [de], Hans Martin Corrinth [de] and Wolfgang Seifen. He passed his A-Examen [de] in 1997 with an award in organ improvisation [de].[1]

Kummer played concerts internationally since 1988, in Europe and the Americas. He played in concert series such as European Organ Festival in Maastricht, achieving the first prize of the Concours L’Europe et L’Orgue in 1996, and the International Bach Festival in Warsaw. He gave concerts at the Riga Cathedral, the Philharmonie St. Petersburg and Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. He played several times at the Guatemala Cathedral, where he supported the restoration of the historic Walcker organ of 1937.[1]

He was Bezirkskantor [de] in Kirchheim unter Teck from 1998,[1][2] where he conducted several oratorios including Frank Martin’s In terra pax). He installed a concert series, Orgelmusik zur Marktzeit (Organ music at market time).[1]

He moved to the Frauenkirche in Dresden in 2005 when the destroyed church was reopened after restoration. He was dispensed in 2022.[1][3] He was among the initiators of a concert series, Dresdner Orgelzyklus, at three churches in Dresden, also the Kreuzkirche and the Hofkirche. He played as an organ soloist with Chemnitz Philharmonic in 2007.[1]

Since 2007, Kummer was a lecturer for organ improvisation and literature play at the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Dresden [de]. He recorded a CD with organ music by Bach and Duruflé for Carus to critical acclaim.[1]

Kummer died on 23 April 2024, at the age of 56. He collapsed on Dresden Main Station on his way to teaching.[3]

Credits: