Martin Heini was born in Lucerne in 1968 and studied at the music academies of Lucerne and Århus. Besides teaching diplomas on the organ and piano and a Diploma in Church Music (A), he was awarded his solo diploma on organ with distinction.
In 1992 he was a prize-winner at the international organ competition ‘Johann Sebastian Bach’ in Lucerne.
Prof. Martin Heini teaches piano at the Lucerne University of Teacher Education and organ at the Lucerne University of Music. From 1999 to 2007 he was also head of the Church Music (C) course at the Lucerne University of Music.
Since 1995 he has been in charge of music at the Church of St Katharina in Horw and artistic director of the concert series ‘Music at St Katharina Horw’. Martin Heini is in demand as a soloist and as an accompanist, regularly performing on the important organs of Europe. He has also been invited to perform at numerous organ festivals (e.g. the International Organ Festival of the Perm, the Höchster Orgelsommer in Frankfurt, the International Organ Concerts in Munich and the Organ Festival of Aland).
His repertoire ranges from the 17th century to the present day. He has given the world premières of several works by Swiss composers, while his collaboration with numerous renowned soloists and ensembles is testament to the broad spectrum of his musical activities. He has worked many times with the Chamber Orchestra of the Novosibirsk Philharmonic, the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, the Cantus Chamber Choir (Ukraine) and other ensembles. Martin Heini was awarded the Horw Cultural Prize in 2010 and the Goll-Medaille 2012 of Orgelbau Goll AG.
His CD “Tongues of Fire” inlcuding the world premiere recording of Carl Rüttis organ concerto and the organ concerto of Francis Poulenc was awarded by The Gramophone Magazine as ‘Gramophone Critic’s Choice 2012’.