Prof. Martin Sturm

Martin Sturm, born in Velburg in 1992, was appointed as Thuringia's youngest professor at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar in 2019. There he teaches organ and organ improvisation, heads the Department of Church Music and founded the ‘Experimental Studio Organ’ for contemporary music. Prior to that, Sturm taught at the Music universities in Würzburg and Leipzig from 2013 to 2019. He has also given numerous courses and lectures on the art of organ playing.

Martin Sturm is the winner of several international music competitions, including 1st prize and the special prize for the best performance on historical organs at the International Organ Week Nuremberg 2018, 1st prize at the International Competition for Organ Improvisation Schwäbisch Gmünd 2017 and 1st prize at the International Organ Festival at St Albans 2013. Martin Sturm was also awarded the ‘Kulturpreis Bayern’ of Bayernwerk AG in 2018 and the music prize of the Keck-Köppe-Förderstiftung des Universitätsbundes Würzburg for ‘extraordinary artistic achievements’ (2017).

He studied church music and organ at the University of Music Würzburg, where he graduated with the A-level exam. He then completed a master class at the University of Music and Theatre ‘Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’ in Leipzig. As part of his international concert career as a performer and improviser, he has already been a guest at major festivals in cathedrals, concert halls and on famous historical instruments. His work has been documented in numerous CD, radio and television productions.

He has also made a name for himself as a composer and has received commissions from, among others, the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the John Cage Organ Foundation in Halberstadt, the Monteverdi Choir in Würzburg and renowned soloists. Furthermore, Sturm works together with composers such as Hans-Joachim Hespos, Konstantia Gourzi and Rishin Singh.