The German organist, Winfried Bönig, began to play the organ at the age of 13, and received his first lessons from Wolfgang Wünsch, the former cathedral (Dom) organist of Bamberg. He continued his studies from 1978 to 1984 at the Musikhochschule in Munich with Franz Lehrndorfer (organ) and Fritz Schieri (conducting). He graduated with honours, and in 1984 he was awarded the Master-Class diploma. In 1993 he received his doctorate in music studies at the University of Augsburg as Dr. Philosophy.
From 1984 to 1998 Winfried Bönig was organist and choir director at the Catholic parish church St. Joseph in Memmingen (Bavaria), also a lecturer at several universities and conservatories. Since 1998 he is professor of organ and improvisation at the Musikhochschule in Cologne. In October 2001, he was appointed as cathedral organist at the Kölner Dom. |