Alois Glaßner studied church music, the organ, conducting, composition and the teaching of singing at Vienna’s University of Music. He also studied choral conducting with Eric Ericson in Stockholm and London, rapidly making a name for himself as one of the leading Austrian chorus masters, initially with the Hugo Distler Choir, which he founded while still a student, and from 1993 to 2005 as director of music at the Augustinian Church in Vienna.
In 2003 Alois Glaßner became artistic director of the Salzburg Bach Choir. Thanks to his work in creating a homogenous sound, the choir has rapidly gained international recognition. Under his direction the choir appears regularly not only at Salzburg’s annual Mozartwoche Festival but, more especially, at the Salzburg Festival, where it has enjoyed great acclaim in numerous concerts as well as a series of staged performances. Together with the Salzburg Bach Choir, Alois Glaßner has also worked intensively on a cappella repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day.
In addition to his choral work, which is notable for its exceptional stylistic range, Alois Glaßner has also taught at the University of Music in Vienna since 1991. Since 2004 he has held a chair in conducting. He is particularly keen to nurture a new generation of choral singers and conductors, which he has done in part through the Vienna Choir School he established in 2008. He also passes on his knowledge and experience through regular seminars and masterclasses.
Alois Glaßner’s artistic versatility is further demonstrated by his activities as a conductor. Among the orchestras with which he has worked are the Symphony Orchestra of the Vienna Volksoper, the Mozarteum Orchestra and the Salzburg Camerata.
