The outstanding church musician Hans-Günther Wauer would have celebrated his 100th birthday on 12 December 2025. As cathedral organist and cantor, he shaped the music at Merseburg Cathedral from 1951 to 1996 and made the famous Ladegast organ resound in a unique way. As the founder of the Merseburg Organ Festival (1963), a pioneer of organ improvisation and contemporary organ literature, he shaped the musical landscape of central Germany and inspired the European organ scene with his concert tours, including to Westminster Abbey and Notre Dame. His legendary collaborations with jazz greats such as Günter „Baby“ Sommer, Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky and Theo Jörgensmann demonstrated his openness and artistic foresight. He was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit I Class for his work.

In grateful memory of a great musician and teacher.