Jean-Claude Zehnder

Jean-Claude Zehnder (born 1941) is a Swiss organist in church and concert, harpsichordist, and musicologist.

In research and playing, he is focused on Baroque music, and has played and recorded at historic organs in Europe.

He was from 1966 church musician (organist and choral conductor) at the Protestant church in Frauenfeld, and taught organ and harpsichord at the Konservatorium Winterthur.

He led the department for organ at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis from 1972 to 2006.

His publications include books and music editions, such as organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Born in Winterthur, Zehnder studied at the conservatory of his hometown, at the University of Zurich, at the Musikakademie Wien with Anton Heiller, and in Amsterdam with Gustav Leonhardt.

He directed the organ class of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis from 1972 to 2006.

He is the organist of the Silbermann organ at the Dom zu Arlesheim.

His publications focus on topics such as the early works by Johann Sebastian Bach, which won him an honorary doctorate from the Technische Universität Dortmund in 2002.

He has worked internationally as a concert organist, lecturer of masterclasses and juror in organ competitions.

He has lectured at the Sommerakademie für alte Musik in Innsbruck and has cofounded organ weeks in Arlesheim and Muri.

His students include Benjamin Alard, Jörg-Andreas Bötticher, Andrés Cea Galán, Michael Eberth, Lorenzo Ghielmi, Rudolf Lutz, Andrea Marcon, Markus Märkl, Felix Pachlatko and Peter Waldner (organist).

Zehnder published books, articles for journals, and editions of music.

He participated in a new edition of Bach's organ works by Breitkopf, based on his particular interest in the development of Bach's writing for the organ.

Zehnder's recordings include Bachs Orgelbüchlein and his Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes (Die achtzehn Leipziger Choräle).

He played organs such as the Hildebrandt organ of St. Wenzel, Naumburg in Naumburg, the Schnitger organ at St. Jacobi in Hamburg and the Ahrend organ in San Simpliciano in Milan.

His recordings are held by the German National Library.