KATZSCHKE, Jan (GER)

Jan Katzschke studied in Hannover under Lajos Rovatkay (harpsichord and early music), Hans Christoph Becker-Foss (organ) and Heinz Hennig (choral conducting). Private harpsichord studies with Robert Hill followed later.

He performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. His repertoire ranges from the Middle Ages to the present day; however, music of the Baroque period is in his main focus, especially the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Several of his CD recordings have won awards. 

With his professional vocal ensemble Corona Harmonica (Dresden) he works on music of the 17th century from Central Germany, that is, on music of Heinrich Schütz and his contemporaries.

After 10 years as a freelance continuo player, during which he was also a part-time employee of "Crescendo International", he worked as a church musician at the Diakonissenhauskirche in Dresden. Here he conducted numerous oratorio performances and a Bach cantata every month for 12 years.

Today he conducts two choirs in his hometown of Neustadt am Rübenberge (near Hanover). As an expert on organs and organ music of the baroque period, he is, among other things, a member of the presidium of the Gottfried-Silbermann-Gesellschaft Freiberg, artistic director of the Erzgebirge Organ Summer and jury member of the International Silbermann Organ Competition.

His research on music and organ building in Saxony has been reflected in numerous publications. In 2020-21, he was responsible for the redesign of the content of the Silbermann Museum in Frauenstein. After 11 years as an organ lecturer at the Dresden College of Church Music, he has been teaching baroque chamber music at the Dresden College of Music since 2022.

Photo credit: Sebastian Kaulfürst