Internationally renowned concert organist Dr. Martin Gregorius was born in 1991 in Poland, where he discovered at the age of 5, the monumental organ at Gdańsk-Oliwa Cathedral. Fascinated by the instrument, this encounter sparked his musical journey to study organ, improvisation, music theory, composition, conducting and church music at world-leading music institutions, including the Detmold University of Music (Germany), the Conservatory of Paris and the Conservatory of Lyon (France). During his studies, he discovered different styles of musical interpretation under the direction of Michel Bouvard, Hanna Dys, Roman Perucki, François Espinasse, Olivier Latry and Tomasz Adam Nowak. Improvisation has always been at the forefront of his artistic creation. With his remarkable talent, he developed his own unique style under the French masters, including Pierre Pincemaille, Thierry Escaich and Philippe Lefebvre. In 2017 he obtained his doctorate, which focuses on the improvisation of the French Organ School.
Martin Gregorius has received numerous prizes for organ playing and improvising throughout Europe, including Austria, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg and Poland. Among his highest distinctions are first prize at the International Organ Improvisation Competition in Schlägl (Austria) and the Westfalen Impro 6 in Münster (Germany). He has been awarded several scholarships from various organisations including the President of Poland, the Polish Ministry of Culture, the Alfred Toepfer Foundation (Germany) and the Art Noble Prize. As a concert organist, Martin Gregorius plays regularly at international organ festivals throughout Europe, USA and Asia. He has given recitals in many major venues including the cathedrals of Edinburgh, Erfurt, Luxembourg, Magdeburg, Mainz, Munich, Paderborn, the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the National Forum of Music in Wrocław and the Polish Baltic Philharmonic in Gdańsk.
In 2017, Martin Gregorius was appointed Organist in Residence at the Sapporo Concert Hall “Kitara”, Japan. During his year of residency, he performed throughout Japan in prestigious venues such as the Art Tower Mito, Sumida Triphony Hall and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. He collaborated with world-renowned conductors and soloists such as Matthias Bamert, Simon Gaudenz, Rainer Küchl, Max Pommer, Shuntaro Sato, Kanade Yokoyama and reputed orchestras including the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Prague and Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie. In 2018, Martin Gregorius released his debut album “Stained Glass Dances” at the Sapporo Concert Hall.
From 2018 to 2021, Martin Gregorius held the position as Director of Music and Organist at St Pancras Church in Gütersloh. Giving masterclasses and lectures, he has also been able to develop his interests in pedagogy and musicology. In 2020, he was appointed lecturer of organ and improvisation at the Regensburg University of Music. Since 2021 he works as Director of Music and Organist at the Basilica of St. James in Straubing and since 2023 is lecturer in organ improvisation at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.
