Ulfert Smidt

Ulfert Smidt grew up in Bremen, where he received his first piano and organ lessons with Uwe Gronostay at the age of ten, taking his D-diploma only two years later. He studied organ and church music in Hanover with Ulrich Bremsteller and completed his A-diploma in 1985. A scholarship by the German Studienstiftung took him to Amsterdam for further studies with Piet Kee and Ewald Kooiman (Concert-diploma in 1987). Further inspiration for his work stems from Michael Radulescu and Harald Vogel. Ulfert Smidt was active as church musician and organ-inspector in Holzminden and Bremen. Since 1996 he has been engaged as organist at the Marktkirche Hannover and as the artistic director of the church’s series of international organ concerts. In addition, he is employed asa tutor for organ and improvisation at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover. Numerous CDs with Ulfert Smidt demonstrate his range of artistic endeavours: Brahms, complete organ works; North-German organ music; Bach, Mendelssohn, Martin, and Messiaen. His recordings have been awarded illustrious prizes such as the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik (Echo Klassik). His last five recordings were produced at the three organs of the Marktkirche Hannover (Italian Organ, Choir-Ensemble-Organ, Great Organ). www.ulfertsmidt.de