Thaddäus Dorsch is a classical contemporary composer, born 1966 in Munich, Germany. His style moves in between post-minimalism, ancient church music and the current new Nordic style. He is pursuing the grand vision of inspiring people to experience new classical music and thus making the world a better place to live.
The focus of his work is sacred music with a deep message, which is reflected in numerous works for choirs and vocal ensembles. Yet there are also works for chamber music, orchestra, theatre and film.
Thaddäus Dorsch lives in the small historic town Landsberg am Lech near Munich. He started his music studies in various instruments, singing and composition at the Music School Landsberg. He gained broad musical experience as a violin and viola player, baritone and conductor. Through collaboration with composers and conductors Karl Zepnik (Germany), Martin Ellerby (GB), Ferrer Ferran (Spain) and Stephen Melillo (USA), he further developed his compositional work.
Thaddäus Dorsch has twice been awarded the Cultural Promotion Prize of the City of Landsberg am Lech. He has been commissioned with several choral works for the German Youth Chamber Choir, for the German Choir Festival and for various choir competitions.
Curriculum Vitae
1966
Born in Munich, Germany, in Mozart Street 16.
1975 – 1990
Manifold musical education in different instruments, singing, choir, conducting and music theory at the Music School Landsberg,
1984/85
First compositions for chamber ensemble
1990 -1995
Co-founder of the 7-men a-cappella ensemble “Landsberger Heulbojen”, national performances and concerts
1987 – 1995
Autodidactic studies of composition
1991
Cultural Promotion Prize of the city of Landsberg am Lech, as a member of the Vocalensemble Landsberg
1996 – 2005
Compositions for choir, internationally successful performances by the Vocalensemble Landsberg
1996
With the ” Psalm 19″ (op. 8) as part of the competition programme, the Vocalensemble Landsberg wins the international Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Choir Competition in Dautphetal (Germany), the “19th Psalm” receives the highest score.
1997
Cultural Promotion Prize of the city of Landsberg am Lech for composition
2000 – 2004
Conducting various choirs
Artistic director of the biennial festival “Lichternacht” Landsberg
2001
Commissioned composition “Moon” (op. 15) for the German Youth Chamber Choir for the Tage neuer Chormusik Würzburg
2003
Commissioned composition “Heaven” (op. 18) for the German Youth Chamber Choir Premiere at the German Choir Festival Berlin 2003
2003
Music for the modern mystery theatre “The Folly of God”, op. 19, for the 100th anniversary of the monastery church of the Archabbey of St. Ottilien.
2004/2005
Music for the film “Hinter meinem Schatten” by Michael Lauterbach (op. 21), together with Michael Lauterbach
2006
Commissioning of “Ora et Labora”, a traditional march for the 50th anniversary of the St. Ottilien School Wind Orchestra. Recorded on CD
2007
Commission of “Lechklang” (op. 23) for the guitar ensemble Capotaster (6 guitars)
2015
World premiere of “Inkontinent” for 3 female voices. Performance by “Trinitá”.
2017
World premiere “Verleih uns Frieden” for 3 choirs; choir of the parish church Landsberg am Lech, director: Marianne Lösch
2020
Commissioned composition of the German folk song about “The moon has risen” by the Landsberg Children’s Choir.
Its world premiere will be at the German Choir Festival in Leipzig 2022 (shifted from 2020), as a part of the choir competition for the category “Best world premiere of a folk song”, presented by the Landsberg Children’s Choir, director: Marianne Lösch.