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The Swiss conductor and musicolog, Alois Koch, completed his studies in a state school and received his diploma in organ and conductiing. He then received his doctorate in musicology.
After his studies, Alois Koch went on to conduct in various cities (Wettingen: Schola Cantorum Wettingensis, Glarus: Glarner Kammerchor and Glarner kammerorchester, Zürich and Winterthur). In 1972 he accepted a position as teacher for choral conducting and conducting offered by the Lucerne Academy of Music and in 1982 he became the conductor of the Academy Choir and the Collegium Musicum of the Lucerne Jesuit Church. From 1991 until 1998 he was also choir master of Chor der St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale Berlin and the Domkapelle Berlin (Berlin Cathedral Choir). In this post he initiated and conducted many first and premiere performances.
From 1987 until 2001 Alois Koch was director of the Academy for School and Church Music in Lucerne. From 2001 to 2008 he was rector of the Lucerne School of Music. In addition he teaches as professor at the University of Lucerne. As a professor and former rector, he is particularly investigating issues of historical performance practice, the spirituality in music history and practice as well as the Swiss music scene. In numerous scientific publications and lectures he has made available the results of public research, teaching and practice.
Alois Koch is active as a conductor at home and abroad and regularly conducts concerts at the Lucerne Festival and the Mozart-Tagen in Lucerne. He has a wide repertoire from different styles: It includes choral and orchestral works from the Baroque and Viennese Classicism in the light of historical performance practice, but also the music of the 19th and 20th Centuries with a focus on oratorios and choral-symphonic works. He is especially dedicated to the the work of two Swiss composer Frank Martin and Arthur Honegger. Numerous radio and CD recordings document his work. In 1998 he received the art and culture prize awarded by the city of Lucerne. |
