Christoph Bornheimer

Christoph Bornheimer (*1988 in Darmstadt) has held the position of Professor of Organ and Organ Improvisation at the University of Church Music Heidelberg since the summer semester of 2025. In addition, he was appointed City Organist of the Protestant Church of Heidelberg in September 2025.

Prior to these appointments, he held teaching positions at several institutions, including the Berlin University of the Arts (2020–2025), the University of Music Würzburg (2016–2025), and the University of Church Music Heidelberg (2016–2023). He also served as a lecturer in music theory at the Mozarteum University Salzburg (2024–2025). His work as a church musician has included posts at St. Marien in Strausberg (near Berlin) and at the Protestant Christ Church in Heidelberg.

Christoph Bornheimer at the console of the Sauer organ in St. Gertraud Church, Frankfurt/Oder (Germany)

He received his first organ lessons from Wolfgang Kleber in his hometown, and later studied church music, organ, and music theory at the universities of music in Heidelberg, Detmold, and Hanover. His teachers included Martin Sander (organ), Eugen Polus (piano), Gunter Martin Göttsche (organ improvisation), Gerhard Luchterhandt, Volker Helbing, Martin Messmer, and Frank Märkel (music theory).

He completed the concert exam in organ performance in 2015 with distinction, as he had previously done with the postgraduate organ studies.

His studies were further enriched by masterclasses in organ with Zigmond Szathmáry, Hans-Ola Ericson, Martin Schmeding, Ton Koopman, Heinrich Walther, and Guy Bovet, among others.

As a concert organist and lecturer, he performs in Germany and across Europe. In recent years, he has also produced several (CD) recordings, publications, and radio broadcasts (Deutschlandfunk Kultur, rbb, MDR).

On a voluntary basis, he currently serves as the acting chair of the Freunde der Walcker-Orgel Christuskirche Heidelberg e. V. association, advocating for the restoration of the late Baroque Krämer organ at Heidelberg’s Christ Church. He is also chairman of the board of the Orgelpower e. V. association, which supports outstanding young organists.