Organists

Details of Choirmasters, Artistic directors

Viktor Gamboz

Helmut Froschauer was choirmaster from 1953-1965. He himself was a member of the choir (1941-1947). He studied at the Vienna Academy of Music (piano, horn, music
theory & conducting). He also was involved with conducting film music for Walt Disney.

Agnes Grossman (the daughter of Ferdinand Grossman) became the first woman director of the Vienna Boys Choir near its 500th anniversary year. She had previously been director of the Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain where she had become known for her progressive ideas. During her short period with the Vienna Boys Choir she improved the quality of life at the Choir’s boarding school. Agnes Grossman expanded leisure, sports and hobby opportunities, hired female staff and even a psychiatrist, to help the adolescent boys cope with the pressures of performing and living away from home. The former dormitories were divided into semi-private rooms, housing four boys each. The strict curfew was relaxed, and corporal punishment was suspended. She also suggested that girls should be allowed in the choir shortly before she 'left'.

Gerald Wirth became the choir's artistic director in 2001. Gerald Wirth was a member of the Vienna Boy's Choir and also a choirmaster in the 80's. He graduated from the
Bruckner Konservatorium in Linz, Austria, where he studied voice, oboe and piano. In the 1990s, he took over as artistic director of the Calgary Boys’ Choir. He also held the post of musical director of the Calgary Civic Symphony and of Sangita, Calgary’s professional vocal ensemble, and he was Associate Conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.