Johannes Prinz

Johannes Prinz has been chorus director of the Singverein of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna since 1991. Under his leadership, the ensemble has re-established its reputation as one of the world’s leading concert choirs, demonstrated by projects with internationally renowned orchestras and conductors, as well as invitations to festivals, global tours and award-winning recordings.

He has also directed ensembles such as the Bavarian and Berlin Radio Choirs, the RIAS Chamber Choir Berlin, the Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus, the Spanish Radio and Television Chorus and the State Choir Latvia, as well as other choirs and choruses in Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Singapore, Lithuania and elsewhere. In 2003 he and María Guinand directed the World Youth Choir.

As an orchestral conductor, Johannes Prinz has worked with orchestras such as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra in Moscow and the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra in Osaka.

He studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, graduating with honours in music and instrumental education, as well as the teaching of singing. He also studied conducting with Karl Österreicher and was further inspired by choral conducting courses with Erwin Ortner.

From 1982 to 1992 he directed the newly founded choir of the University of Economics and Business in Vienna, which quickly gained an international reputation, winning first prize in several important competitions. He was also director of the Chamber Choir of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna from 1988 to 1995 and of the Vienna Chamber Choir from 1995 to 2007.

In 1985 Johannes Prinz began teaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Since 2000 he has been professor of choral conducting at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. He regularly leads international choral conducting courses and masterclasses and is a jury member for numerous important competitions.

Johannes Prinz was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art.