he German conductor, Hans Bönisch, is German Roman-Catholic priest, organist, and church musician. He graduated from the Justus-Liebig-Gymnasium in Gießen in 1979 and studied Catholic theology in Würzburg from 1980 to 1983 and in Mainz from 1983 to 1986. At the same time he studied organ with Thomas Ball, Egidius Doll and Günther Kaunzinger. In 1987 he was ordained a priest.
Hans Bönisch has been working in Brazil since 1992 at the invitation of the Cardinal Archbishop of Salvador da Bahia and founded and directed German-Brazilian cultural projec (choir and orchestra) Barroco na Bahia. He had an organ installed in the Cathedral of Salvador da Bahia; Under his direction, seven historic buildings in the old town of Salvador da Bahia were restored, which have since been used as the project's cultural center, including a hotel. By 2010, around 980 concerts had been organized and twelve operas performed; more than 200 artists and musicians from all over the world have worked on the project free of charge. Numerous courses, also on ecclesiastical art, music and restoration, are held under the direction of Hans Bönisch in the cultural center Barroco na Bahia. The own hotel serves to generate funds for the maintenance of the project.
As an organist, Hans Bönisch recorded eight CD's, and twelve CD's were recorded with the choir and orchestra. In 2004, Hans Bönisch received the Federal Republic of Germany's Medal of Merit in recognition of his services to German cultural work in Brazil. |