The Bayreuth College of Protestant Church Music is the relatively new, yet traditional and modern music college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria. Founded in November 1999 by church law passed by the regional synod, it began operating on 1 October 2000. It is the successor institution to the Bayreuth Academy of Protestant Church Music, which was originally founded in 1948 as a church music school in Erlangen.
Its core church music courses are complemented by courses focusing on music education or the arts. Centrally located in the festival and university city of Bayreuth, it offers students ideal conditions for studying and living thanks to its spacious premises, excellent facilities and adjoining halls of residence.
The university has an extensive range of instruments at its disposal, including nine organs made by Goll, Rohlfs, Verschueren, Schuke (chest organ) and Steinmeyer. The Steinmeyer organ in Bayreuth City Church (renovated in 2014) and the historic Herbst organ in Lahm/Itzgrund Castle Church are also available for concerts, lessons and courses. In addition, there are 16 grand pianos (Steinway, Steingraeber, Yamaha, Kawai, etc.), 12 upright pianos (Steinway, Steingraeber, Bechstein, Berdux, etc.), 5 harpsichords (Bettenhausen, Neupert, Ranftl), a clavichord (C. Schmidt) and other practice instruments from a wide variety of fields.
The university library has a collection of approximately 19,000 sheet music editions, approximately 4,500 books, a historical hymn book collection, and an impressive number of complete editions by composers relevant to church music (Bach, Schütz, Reger, Handel, Buxtehude, Telemann, Praetorius).
Research can be carried out on site at the following times:
- Monday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday to Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Research can also be conducted online:
The library is managed by Mr. Jonas Neise. You can reach him on 0921/759 34 - 22 or by email:
The university hall of residence offers 20 affordable single rooms equipped with modern built-in furniture and washing facilities. Showers and toilets are located in the corridor.
There are also two communal kitchens, lounges, a computer room, a communal dining room and a student-run wine cellar.
Lunch can be purchased at reasonable prices from the Bayreuth Student Services Association.
If you have any questions, please contact our housekeeping manager Franziska Nicklas. You can reach her on 0921/759 34 - 12 or by email: hauswirtschaft(at)hfk-bayreuth.de