Anton Heiller

Anton Heiller was first trained in church music by Wilhelm Mück at Vienna's Stephansdom before studying at the Vienna Academy of Music under Bruno Seidlhofer and Friedrich Reidinger. His career took off post-World War II with a series of concerts, lectures, and recordings. In 1952, he won the International Organ Competition in Haarlem, Netherlands, leading to extensive tours across Europe and the United States. Heiller's repertoire spanned from Giovanni Gabrieli to Max Reger and Paul Hindemith, showcasing his formidable technique and rhythmic strength. His compositions included an organ concerto (1963) and a concerto for organ and harpsichord (1972). He received numerous awards, including the Vienna Culture Prize in 1963 and the Grand Austrian State Prize in 1969. Anton Heiller died unexpectedly in 1979 in Vienna at the age of 55.