Christian Mayrhofer: Diabelli Contest 2016

Christian Mayrhofer born 27/11/1960 in Ried/Innkreis, Austria to an ENT medical specialist.

Already during my time in high school a enthusiastic choir singer; first composition attempt at the age of 14; violin and piano lessons. In 1980 my first work premiered - a requiem for a four-part mixed choir and organ by my music teacher and Seminary Dean of the Ried Church Choir Professor Joseph Werndl in the Ried/Innkreis parish church.

For a little while during my medical studies in Vienna I was interim seminary dean for the church choir of the Ried/Innkreis city parish twice: first in 1982 after Professor Joseph Werndl was relieved from office to the post of Director of Music in Passau, Germany and again in 1992 after Heinrich Walder (now Director of Music in Brixina, Italy) and Johannes Dandler.

My a cappella mass "Missa gratias agimus tibi" premiered though Heinrich Walder, which as "a mass of thanks" I composed for the successful completion of my medical studies in 1986. This mass resounded again through Johannes Dandler in the Linz Cathedral.

In 1997 I composed my first orchestral work “Sinfonietta”. The work laid more than 10 years in my desk drawer. In 2010 I got up enough courage and showed the score to Professor Gunter Waldek (composition teacher at the Bruckner Conservatory of Linz) and promptly received permission after a short review for a performance. This performance took place on 19/11/2011 with the Brucknerbund Orchester of Ried/Innkreis.