Johannes Hiemetsberger

There are certain people
whose enthusiasm is unmistakeably palpable,
whose curiosity is insatiable and limitless,
who consider the unthinkable doable,
who have the keen ability to really listen,
who understand how to create a movingly human atmosphere,
and who have been bestowed with far more than just technical skill.
People who inspire others to breathe and sing together without limits.
Johannes Hiemetsberger is precisely this type of person, and so much more.
(Norbert Trawöger, 2017)

Founder and artistic director of Chorus sine nomine, Company of Music and numerous youth chorus initiatives, including Neue Wiener Stimmen 2010-2013 and the Upper Austrian State Youth Chorus (2000-2005).

As a conductor, Johannes Hiemetsberger collaborates regularly with orchestras like the Wiener Akademie, the L’Orfeo Barockorchester, the Camerata Salzburg, the Wiener Symphoniker brass ensemble and the ensemble die reihe, as well as the NDR Chor, the Bavarian Radio Chorus, and Sociedad de Coral de Bilbao and others.

Johannes Hiemetsberger and his ensembles have a wide repertory ranging from music of the Renaissance to modern compositions, perform regularly in the Konzerthaus and Musikverein in Vienna, with Musikalische Jugend Österreichs (Jeunesse), the Salzburg Festival Pfingsten Barock, styriarte, the International Bruckner Festival in Linz, the Wien Modern festival, Milano Musica, the Ravenna Festival and others. This season’s debuts include the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore.

He has been the artistic director of the Stimmen Festival in Freistadt, Upper Austria, since 2008, and is regularly invited to lead workshops and master classes worldwide (the Europa Cantat festivals in France and Spain, workshops in the USA, Taiwan, the Philippines, Finnland, Germany and Italy). He teaches choral and ensemble conducting at the University of Fine Arts Vienna, where he also directs several ensembles (Webern Kammerchor 2011-2016, Groove Ensemble 2012-2017, Nrebew Consort since 2016).

Johannes Hiemetsberger studied music at the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz (trumpet), at the University of Fine Arts Vienna (music pedagogy, choral conducting with Johannes Prinz and Herwig Reiter), and at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (conducting with Georg Mark and early music).

Johannes Hiemetsberger was awarded the Erwin Ortner Fund Prize as well as the Ferdinand Grossmann Prize.