Gerald Wirth

Gerald Wirth has conducted choirs and orchestras all over the world. He has acted as chorus master at the Salzburg State Theatre and musical director at the Calgary Civic Symphony. Gerald received his first musical training as a member of the Vienna Boys’ Choir, which he now oversees as president and artistic director, and at Anton Bruckner University in Linz, where he studied voice, oboe and piano.   

Gerald’s first love is the human voice, and most of his original compositions are vocal works. He has written three children’s operas, several large oratorios, masses, motets and songs. Carmina Austriaca, his most recent large-scale work, is a cycle of medieval songs for large orchestra, mixed chorus and boys’ choir.  

In 2003, he founded the Wirth Music Academy to educate music teachers and choir directors according to the Wirth Method, a holistic approach which he developed. Gerald works with schools that have little or no access to music and supports several organizations that offer workshops for refugees. He believes that music is the language of emotions understood by everyone, and through music other subjects become accessible. “Music is a gateway to learning,” Gerald explains. “And this is particularly important for children who have never been to a school.” 

He is convinced music has a positive influence on every aspect of a person’s being.