Church musician becomes professor at the University of Church Music
After three and a half years in Darmstadt, Lukas Euler, cantor of St. Paul's Church, is leaving the Evangelical St. Paul's Parish. The 29-year-old church musician will take up a professorship at the University of Church Music in Dresden on September 1st. He will be given a farewell service on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Paul's Church on Niebergallweg.
As a farewell, the Paulus Choir, under his direction, performs the cantata "Erschallet, ihr Lieder" by Johann Sebastian Bach – Euler's favorite composer.
Successful years in the Paulus parish
Lukas Euler describes his time in Darmstadt as "not quite short and not quite long" over the past three and a half years. He says he was particularly influenced by the collaboration with full-time and volunteer staff in the community and surrounding neighborhood.
He said he was able to realize his goal of connecting people through music particularly well in Darmstadt. The church services, his work with the Paulus Choir, and numerous musical projects were important parts of his work.
New impulses for church music
During his time in Darmstadt, Euler introduced numerous new initiatives. These included the Organ Sundays, during which he offered visitors insights into organ playing after church services. These events became a regular meeting place, attracting up to 100 guests.
He also rebuilt the Paulus Choir after the Corona pandemic. In addition, he founded the Camerata Paulina project orchestra. Together with the Bessungen Kantorei and the Sinfonietta Darmstadt, they produced highly acclaimed performances such as Mozart's Requiem in 2024 and Bach's Christmas Oratorio in 2025.
Passion for teaching
In addition to his work as cantor, Lukas Euler was deeply involved in the training of young musicians. The graduate of the Freiburg and Leipzig Universities of Music has already taught as a guest professor at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts and at the Institute for Church Music of the Diocese of Mainz.
He mentored twelve organ students from Darmstadt and the surrounding region. Several of them were successful at the "Jugend musiziert" competition, and three are now studying church music themselves.
“Teaching has become my passion,” Euler explains. In Dresden, he will teach church music and organ, specializing in improvisation and pedagogy, and will also head the organ department.
Farewell with the International Organ Summer
Until his move to Dresden, Lukas Euler will remain active in Darmstadt until the end of July. He will continue to oversee the International Organ Summer at St. Paul's Church.
He will perform there one last time on July 1st at 8 p.m., together with clarinetist Irith Gabriely. At that time, he will also bid farewell to the Schuke organ of St. Paul's Church, which accompanied him almost daily during his time in Darmstadt.
Looking at the instrument, Euler says: "I've done incredibly great things with it."
(DARMSTADT – RED/PM)
Featured image: Evangelical Deanery of Darmstadt
