Rudolf Kelber

Rudolf Kelber (born 1948, Traunstein, Germany) is a German organist, harpsichordist, conductor and church musician.

Rudolf Kelber began his musical education at high school in Nuremberg State Conservatory and received instruction in piano, organ, cello and music theory. From 1967 to 1974 he studied church music, conducting and organ (master class) at the Musikhochschule in Munich. Among his teachers were Karl Richter and Franz Lehrndorfer (organ), Maria Landes-Hindemith and Erik Then-Bergh (piano), as well as Jan Koetsier and Kurt Eichhorn (conducting).

Rudolf Kelber worked as a theatre conductor in Gelsenkirchen (1974–1976) and in Heidelberg (1976–1982). At the same time he played chamber music extensively and attended authentic performance practice classes with Alan Curtis, Gustav Leonhardt and Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

In 1982 Rudolf Kelber succeeded Heinz Wunderlich as cantor and organist at the Hauptkirche St. Jacobi in Hamburg.

Kelber initiated the fundamental restoration of the Arp Schnitger organ, the largest sounding baroque organ in existence, in the Hauptkirche St. Jacobi, which was completed in 1993. The second organ of St. Jacobi (Kemper 1960/1968) was also repaired on his initiative in 2008.

The tenure of Rudolf Kelber at the Hauptkirche St. Jacobi in Hamburg ended 2015. He continues to perform as organist, harpsichordist and jazz pianist and composes.

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