Dr. Frank Höndgen is the Choral Director and Artistic Supervisor of Church Music at the Jesuit and Court Church of St. Michael's in Munich. Born in Bonn in 1967, he began studying natural sciences in Bonn and Jülich after finishing secondary school in 1986.
Studies in Catholic Church Music in Cologne with Clemens Ganz and Jürgen Kursawa (organ), Henning Frederichs and Reiner Schuhenn (choral and orchestral conducting), among others. Teaching assignments for vocal studies, liturgical singing and schola conducting at the theological seminaries in Bonn and Cologne.
Activities as a singer and soloist, particularly with the Cologne Chamber Choir and Kartäuserkantorei Cologne under Prof. Peter Neumann. Until 2003 Artistic Director of the Chamber Choir "Bonn Praetorius Society" (now Figuralchor Bonn), with much acclaimed performances at EXPO 2000 in Hanover and elsewhere.
Between 2000 and 2005 Frank Höndgen served as Regional Cantor at the inner city parish St. Antonius in Barmen (Wuppertal), with comprehensive choral activities in all areas (children's choirs, choralschola, ensemble, and large choir) and orchestral work.
Masterclasses, workshops and visiting periods with many renowned conductors, among them Frieder Bernius, Uwe Gronostay, Paul Hillier, Erwin Ortner, Michail Jurowski, Stephen Cleobury, David Hill, James Lancelot, and Peter Neumann.
Since June 2005 Choral Director at St. Michael's in Munich. Comprehensive choral and orchestral work with existing and newly founded ensembles (Choir and Orchestra of St. Michael's, Chamber Choir, Collegium Monacense, Choralschola) in liturgy, concerts and CD productions.
Collaborations as organist and conductor with the Bavarian State Orchestra and GMD Kent Nagano (Brussels, Budapest, Garmisch), Zubin Metha, Dan Ettinger, and Valery Gergiev, the Hilliard Ensemble, SingerPUR, the BR Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Bach Choir and the Choir of the State Theater at Gärtnerplatz in Munich, among others.
Since 2005 instructor in the diocesan qualification program for church musicians, for the subjects Gregorian Chant and German Liturgical Chant. 2008–2010 teaching assignment for conducting at the Institute of Musical Pedagogy, LMU Munich. 2012 Ph.D. in Musicology at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, with the first academic study on the liturgy of the hours at Münsterschwarzach Abbey. Extensive teaching activities and lectures both nationally and internationally, CD productions, publications in numerous professional journals. Co-editor of the new series of choral scores to accompany the Gotteslob hymnal (2013) for CARUS, Stuttgart. 2014 Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music.
Dr. Frank Höndgen
Phone +49 / 89 / 23 17 06-34
Fax +49 / 89 / 23 17 06-40
frank.hoendgen(at)michaelsmusik.de
Choir & Orchestra of St. Michael's
The choir and orchestra of St. Michael's have by far the longest and richest tradition of all the musical ensembles connected to our church. They can look back at a history that spans more than 400 years, starting with the consecration of the altars in 1592, which was accompanied by then maestro di capella Orlando di Lasso. Today the choir and orchestra are essential elements in the great concert of all musical ensembles at St. Michael's.
Collegium Monacense
Collegium Monacense of St. Michael's is a professional vocal ensemble that cultivates the tradition of the court chapel, i.e. music performed around the times of St. Michael's original construction. The ensemble's sound is ideal for performing works of the early modern era, particularly Renaissance and early Baroque music. But the Collegium also tackles music in all other styles and from all eras (in appropriately varying sizes).