Artistic Director

Erasmus Baumgartner - Artistic Director

Erasmus Baumgartner was appointed Artistic Director of the Vienna Boys Choir in 2023, after serving as assistant and deputy to Gerald Wirth.

His musical journey began early as a chorister at the historic St. Florian Monastery in Upper Austria. By age 17, he was studying conducting and voice at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz, graduating with highest honours in choral conducting and cultural management. He went on to earn a second Master’s degree with honours from the Mozarteum University Salzburg, specialising in music education.

Aa a boy chorister and adult choral singer, Baumgartner has performed at the Salzburg Festival under legendary conductors like Herbert von Karajan, Seiji Ozawa, and Franz Welser-Möst. He is also the founder of the award-winning Academy Singers and has extensive teaching experience across Austrian schools, the Vienna State Opera, and the Vienna Boys Choir campus itself.

Manolo Cagnin - Kapellmeister, Brucknerchor

Born in Italy, Manolo Cagnin’s passion for music began early, leading him to study violin and viola at the Venice Conservatory before pursuing choral music, conducting, and composition in both Venice and Milan. He furthered his training in Leipzig under the mentorship of Kurt Masur and Fabio Luisi, where he regularly conducted the Motette at St. Thomas Church as assistant to Thomaskantor Georg Christoph Biller.

Cagnin was appointed Kapellmeister of Brucknerchor in 2008. A-cappella repertoire and a direct connection to the audience are central to his artistic vision: "Music is a gift—as musicians, we have a responsibility to share it." His dynamic energy has taken him and his choir across every continent, from Vietnam to South America and Australia. In his free time, he can usually be found playing football with his choristers.

Jimmy Chiang - Kapellmeister, Haydnchor

Born in Hong Kong, Jimmy Chiang began playing piano at just four years old, later adding harpsichord, organ, and cello to his repertoire. He studied music at the Trinity College of Music in London, Baylor University in the US, and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, with early mentorship from Seiji Ozawa and Leopold Hager. In 2007, he won first prize at the prestigious Lovro von Matačić International Competition for Young Conductors. This led to engagements as Kapellmeister at Theater Freiburg, guest conducting appearances at Komische Oper Berlin and Schlosstheater Schönbrunn, and collaborations with major ensembles, including the Lübeck Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chiang has been Kapellmeister of the Vienna Boys Choir since autumn 2013, shaping the tour repertoire and preparing the choir for everything from Sunday masses to studio recordings. Under his leadership, Haydnchor has toured extensively across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
 

Stefan Foidl - Kapellmeister, Vienna Girls Choir (Wiener Chormädchen)

During his studies, Stefan Foidl served as assistant to Günther Theuring with the Vienna Jeunesse Choir and as choirmaster for the Vienna Tonkünstler Association. He later founded the Jazz Chor Wien, leading the ensemble in high-profile performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Freiburg Münstersommer, and the opening of the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen).

A decorated musician, Foidl received a DownBeat Award as a member of the University of Miami’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble, as well as the Erwin Ortner Fund Award for the promotion of choral music. He was also honoured with the Composition Prize from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna for his own original works and arrangements, and he frequently shares his expertise as an international guest lecturer.

Manuel Huber - Kapellmeister, Mozartchor

Born in South Tyrol, Manuel Huber began playing the piano at the age of six, later spending eight years with the Vinzentiner Boys' Choir and eventually becoming its chairman. His talent for leadership emerged exceptionally early; by age 15, he was already directing three local choirs while simultaneously studying piano at the Bolzano Conservatory. He went on to train at the Mozarteum University Salzburg, graduating with highest honours in choral and orchestral conducting, alongside vocal pedagogy. To complement his musical training, he also studied psychology and attended numerous international masterclasses.

Huber gained extensive experience, working with amateur choirs, leading orchestras such as the Budweis Chamber Philharmonic, and spending two years as a choirmaster and vocal coach with the Tölzer Knabenchor. Since joining the Vienna Boys Choir, his concert tours have taken him across the USA, Japan, Germany, Italy, and Jordan. Alongside his musical work, his background in psychology fuels his commitment to mentoring the children as they navigate growing up.

Johannes Pell - Kapellmeister, Schubertchor

Johannes Pell studied piano, choral conducting, and orchestral conducting in Vienna and Salzburg, having developed his early musical foundations with the St. Florianer Sängerknaben and the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz.

His distinguished career in opera and concert performance includes engagements with Theatre Erfurt, Bonn Opera, the Vienna Volksoper, and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. He previously served as First Kapellmeister at the Wuppertal Opera, and from 2020 to 2024, he was Chief Conductor of the Staatsoperette Dresden. His talent was recognised early in his career, when Pell was named "Emerging Artist of the Year" by the prestigious Opernwelt magazine.

Daniel Erazo-Muñoz - Kapellmeister, Chorus Juventus

Erazo-Muñoz studied music education in Colombia before training in choral and orchestral conducting in Paris and Graz, graduating from the latter with highest honours. His extensive career as a conductor includes work with the World Peace Choir, the Vienna Youth Choir, and the Pannonian Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Highly active in international music education, Erazo-Muñoz frequently delivers masterclasses abroad and serves as Vice President of the Austrian Choral Association, where he advocates for music education in schools. He has led the Vienna Boys Choir’s Chorus Juventus since 2018.

Kirlianit Cortes-Galvez - Kapellmeister, Chorus Primus

Kirlianit Cortes-Galvez studied music in Colombia, Cuba, and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, training under Marjana Lipovšek and completing masterclasses with renowned vocal coaches. An accomplished operatic tenor, his international performances span leading Mozart and bel canto roles—including Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Count Almaviva (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), and Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni)—alongside a busy schedule as a soloist in major oratorios and masses. His work is featured on several CD and DVD recordings.

Cortes-Galvez has been a Kapellmeister at the Vienna Boys Choir campus since 2020, focusing on vocal training for the third and fourth-grade boys and girls, and directing the Chorus Primus. His recent conducting highlights include appearances with the EAFIT Symphony Orchestra in Colombia and leading a joint performance of Chorus Primus and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra for a Make-A-Wish Foundation benefit concert.