Herbert Collum was born on July 18, 1914, in Leipzig, Germany, and was an organist, harpsichordist, composer, and conductor. He studied at the Kirchenmusikalisches Institut Leipzig from 1930 to 1934 under notable figures such as Karl Straube and Günther Ramin. Collum's early career included serving as an assistant organist at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig from 1932 to 1935. In 1935, he was appointed as the organist at the Dresdner Kreuzkirche, a position he held until he died in 1982. During this period, Collum founded the Collum-Chor and Collum-Konzerte in 1946. His notable works include Moritzburger Konzert Nr. 1 (1965), Ankunftssinfonietta für Kammerorchester (1974), and 2 Konzerte für Orgel und Vibraphon (1978). His work was recognized with the Kunstpreis der DDR in 1973. He passed away on April 29, 1982, in Dresden. In the same year, he posthumously received the Martin Andersen Nexö Art Prize of the City of Dresden.
