Kay Johannsen

Kay Johannsen is a German-Swiss organist, conductor, and composer serving as a Professor at the Lucerne University of Music (since Fall 2024) and Stiftskantor in Stuttgart. He leads the Stuttgarter Kantorei, solistenensemble stimmkunst, Stiftsbarock Stuttgart, and Stiftsphilharmonie Stuttgart, and curates prominent concert cycles like Bach:vokal and |:Mendelssohn:| KirchenMusik. His academic work includes a PhD in Artistic Research on programmatische organ improvisation.

Education: Studied in Freiburg and Boston, supported by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes and Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation. Professional roles include juror at the German Music Competition and guest conductor across Europe/Asia.

Research focuses on improvisation, Baroque performance practice, and modern choral-orchestral works. Compositions blend classical tradition with contemporary innovation, featured on over 30 CDs (Carus, hänssler classic, etc.).

Awards include 1st/2nd prizes at German Choral Competitions (2006, 2014, 2018) and the 1988 German Music Competition (Organ).

Teaching emphasizes organ literature, improvisation, and ensemble conducting. Public outreach includes YouTube tutorials on improvisation techniques.