Roderich Kreile (born 1956) is a German

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

church musician, choir director and university teacher. He had been the director of the

Dresdner Kreuzchor The Dresdner Kreuzchor is the boys' choir of the Kreuzkirche in Dresden, Germany. It has a seven-century history and a world-wide reputation. Today, the choir has about 150 members between the ages of 9 and 19, from Dresden and the surroundin ...

at the

Kreuzkirche, Dresden The Dresden Kreuzkirche (Church of the Holy Cross) is a Lutheran church in Dresden, Germany. It is the main church and seat of the '' Landesbischof'' of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony, and the largest church building in the Free State ...

, as the 28th Kreuzkantor since the

Reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major Theology, theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the p ...

from 1997 until his retirement in 2022.

Life and work

Born 1956, Kreile studied church music and choral conducting in Munich. In 1981, he became a

cantor A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing or sometimes in prayer. Cantor as a profession generally refers to those leading a Jewish congregation, although it also applies to the lead singer or choir director in Christian contexts. ...

at the Christ Church in Munich. From 1989 to 1996, he taught choral conducting at the

Hochschule für Musik und Theater München The University of Music and Theatre Munich (), also known as the Munich Conservatory, is a performing arts music school, conservatory in Munich, Germany. The main building it currently occupies is the former ''Führerbau'' of the NSDAP, locate ...

. He was appointed

Kirchenmusikdirektor Kirchenmusikdirektor (KMD, director of church music) is a German title for professional church musicians (' who have responsibility for not only a parish but a larger region, in both Protestant and Catholic church music. The title is also sometimes ...

(director of church music) in 1990. In 1994, he also prepared the choir

Philharmonischer Chor München The Philharmonischer Chor München (Munich Philharmonic Choir), is a choir founded in 1895 by Franz Kaim in the German city of Munich. Conducted since 1996 by Andreas Herrmann, its repertoire spans a range from the Baroque to operas in concert and ...

for concerts with the

Münchner Philharmoniker The Munich Philharmonic () is a German symphony orchestra located in the city of Munich. It is one of Munich's four principal orchestras, along with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Radio Orchestra and the Bavarian State Orche ...

. In 2010, he became a member of the

Sächsische Akademie der Künste The Sächsische Akademie der Künste (Saxon Academy of Arts) is a German cultural organisation for the state of Saxony, based in Dresden. Purpose The Academy is a statutory corporation to promote the arts in Saxony, make proposals for its pro ...

(Saxon Academy of Arts). He has been the vice chairman of the

Neue Bachgesellschaft The Neue Bachgesellschaft, or New Bach Society, is an organisation based in Leipzig, Germany, devoted to the music of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach. It was founded in 1900 as the successor to the Bach Gesellschaft, which between 1850 and 19 ...

and an advisory board member of the International Heinrich Schütz Society. Since 1997, Kreile has been the 28th Kreuzkantor since the

. Leading the Dresdner Kreuzchor with its history of more than 700 years is regarded as one of the most prestigious positions the Protestant church in Germany has to offer ("eines der ehrenvollsten Ämter der evangelischen Kirchenmusik"). He has a contract until 2022. With him, the Dresdner Kreuzchor has appeared extensively at home and abroad. Tours have taken the choir through Germany, other European countries, to the United States, South America, South Korea and Japan. It is one of few boys' choirs serving as ambassadors of Saxony abroad. He has conducted premieres of choral music. On 2 July 2022, he retired after 25 years in office and was succeeded by Martin Lehmann, who led the

Windsbacher Knabenchor The Windsbacher Knabenchor (Windsbach Boys' Choir) is a German boys' choir in Windsbach, Germany, founded in 1946 and performing internationally. History The choir was founded in 1946 by Hans Thamm and was conducted by Karl-Friedrich Beringer fro ...

since 2012.

Recordings

Kreile has recorded with the Dresdner Kreuzchor music written for Dresden, such as cantatas for Pentecost and a St John Passion which his predecessor the 15th Kreuzkantor

Gottfried August Homilius Gottfried August Homilius (2 February 1714 – 2 June 1785) was a German composer, cantor and organist. He is considered one of the most important church composers of the generation following Bach's, and was the main representative of the '' ...

composed for the Frauenkirche in Dresden.

Awards

In 2005, the Dresdner Kreuzchor was awarded the Brahms-Preis (Brahms Prize). On 2 June 2012, Kreile was awarded the Sächsische Verfassungsmedaille by the president of the Saxon Landtag

Matthias Rößler Erich Matthias Rößler (born 14 January 1955) is a German politician, and member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Since 1990, he has been a member of the Saxon Landtag. From 1994 to 2004 he served as minister of culture, later as mini ...

for "sein beeindruckendes künstlerisches Schaffen, das stets mit hohem persönlichen Einsatz und großem Erfolg verbunden ist" (his impressive artistic work, which is always associated with a high personal commitment and great success).

References

External links

*
Roderich Kreile (Choral Conductor)
Bach Cantatas website * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kreile, Roderich German Lutherans German male conductors (music) 1956 births Living people Musicians from Dresden Academic staff of the University of Music and Theatre Munich 21st-century German conductors (music) 21st-century German male musicians