Born in Schwäbisch Hall in 1957. Attended the Protestant theological seminaries in Maulbronn and Blaubeuren. 1978 Studies at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart: Werner Jacob, organ, Kenneth Gilbert, harpsichord, Ulrich Süße and Helmut Lachenmann, composition. Intensive studies followed, especially with Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini in Fribourg/Switzerland in organ, harpsichord, and musicology.

Numerous awards, including 1st prize at the International Organ Week Nuremberg (Johann Pachelbel Prize, 1979), prizewinner of the Rotary Foundation Stuttgart (1981), scholarships from the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes and the state of Baden-Württemberg, prizewinner of the Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund. Inc. Boston (1989), Ivan Lucacic Prize Varazdin/Croatia (1992), appointment as church music director (1998).

Teaching activities: Musikhochschule Stuttgart (1987-1991), Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Esslingen (1987-1992), professorship for organ and head of the study commission for protestant church music at the Musikhochschule Trossingen (since 1991). Since April 2007 professor for organ and church music at the University of Music Würzburg.

Intensive concert activity throughout Europe as well as North and South America, Japan and Korea. Numerous radio, television, and CD productions (labels including Intercord / EMI, ARS MUSICI, ORGANUM music production). Juror in international competitions. Author of numerous musicological studies; composition commissions by broadcasting companies and renowned festivals. Composition of radio series on J.S. Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier Part II and Max Reger, the Organ Works. Consultant of internationally significant organ building projects such as the total reconstruction of the Johann-Andreas Silbermann organ Villingen 1752. Intensive examination of the historically evolved sound styles of European organ landscapes, especially in the former German-speaking cultural area. Initiator of the process "The Organ as a European Cultural Asset" for the rescue and preservation of historical organ heritage in Eastern Europe. Main initiator of the EU-project "OrganExpert", funded by the European Community since October 2005, for the development and testing of a new master course (Master of Arts), teaching artistic, scientific and craft training to become an organ expert. Initiator of international events for new organ music at the Musikhochschule Trossingen. Co-initiator of the John Cage<Organ> Foundation Halberstadt. Awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Cluj-Napoca (Klausenburg) in 2003. Artistic director of the International Max Reger Biennale Giengen/Brenz.