Michael Schönheit

Michael Schönheit was born in 1961 in Saalfeld, Communist East Germany. Schönheit is an organist and conductor who received initial musical training in piano and organ from his father, Walter Schönheit. After graduating high school, Schönheit studied at the Leipzig Hochschule für Musik “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” (1978–1985). He succeeded his father as organist at the Johanniskirche in Saalfeld until 1990 and became the Gewandhausorganist in 1986. Schönheit collaborated with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt and Kurt Masur, who facilitated a debut as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic (1995). He leads ensembles including the Merseburger Hofmusik and Collegium Vocale Leipzig. Discography releases include Die Schukeorgel im Neuen Gewandhaus Leipzig (1987). He was awarded the Mendelssohn-Stipendium (1984) and the Order of Merit of Saxony-Anhalt (2015).