Winfried Bönig is since 2001 Titulair Organist of the Cathedral of Cologne, one of the most prestigious places for an organist in the world. His work as a professor for organ and improvisation at the „Hochschule für Musik“ in Cologne includs the function of a dean of the departement of Catholic church music.
Bönig was born in Bamberg in 1959 and has studied organ, conducting and church
music with Franz Lehrndorfer, Cathedral organist in Munich, at the Munich
College of Music.
His Exams Bönig passed „with distinction“, additionaly he received a
prestigious master class diploma.
In 1993, Bönig earned a doctorate degree in musicology (University of Augsburg),
result of an intensive work with the performance practice of baroque music,
same as romantic and contemporary French organ music.
In these early years he was already asked as a lecturer at various Universities
as well as music courses and seminars both at home and abroad.1984-1998
organist at the catholic St.Josef church in Memmingen, Bavaria.
International concert appearances as organist, harpsichordist and conductor
leaded him all over the world, he is asked frequently to perform in organ
inaugurations.
Bönig has performed numerous premieres of works dedicated to him, including those by Jean Guillou, Enjott Schneider, Naji Hakim, Stephen Tharp, Daniel Roth and Colin Mawby.
The integral performance of Johann Sebastian Bach´s, Max Regers and Olivier Messiaens works for organ are milestons in his career.Numerous recordings and radio broadcasts. His CD´s recorded on the large organs at Cologne Cathedral belong to the most successful products among organ recordings in Europe.