Dirk Elsemann (* August 18, 1977 in Rhede/Westphalia)
received organ lessons from the age of seven by church musician Alfred Heinzel (Bocholt). Elsemann was organist at various churches in Bocholt (1989–1991 Christ Church, 1991–1992 Our Lady's Church, 1993–1994 Sacred Heart Church, 1994–2000 Holy Cross Church). In 1994, he won first prize in organ improvisation at the national "Jugend musiziert" competition (Leipzig). He attended masterclasses with Frédéric Blanc, Anders Bondeman, Helmut Deutsch, Mikko Korhonen, Jon Laukvik, Tomasz Adam Nowak, Peter Planyavsky, Jan Raas, and Daniel Roth. From 1997 to 2004, he studied church music at the RSH in Düsseldorf and the HdK/UdK Berlin, graduating with an A-level diploma. His teachers included Stefan Schmidt, Leo van Doeselaar, Erwin Wiersinga, Paolo Crivellaro, Wolfgang Seifen, Raimund Wippermann, and Uwe Gronostay. In 1999, he won the competition for artistic organ playing and improvisation in Düsseldorf (Gottfried Schreuer Prize). Since 2001, he has been the church musician at the Catholic Church of the Holy Cross (Berlin-Wilmersdorf). In 2005, he passed the concert exam in organ improvisation with distinction. Since 2004, he has been reconstructing and expanding the romantic Steinmeyer-Elsemann organ (1927) at the Catholic Church of the Holy Cross (Berlin-Wilmersdorf). Lectureships in liturgical organ playing/church organ playing/improvisation at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK Berlin) (2003–2021), at the C-Seminar of the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia (EKBO) (2008–2013), and at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (HMTM) (2008–2024). Visiting professor from 2021 to 2026, and since 2026, professor of liturgical organ playing and improvisation at the Berlin University of the Arts. Appointed to the Archdiocese of Berlin's Church Music Commission by Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki in 2014. He has performed in various European countries (Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, and Switzerland). His musical work is complemented by CD, radio, and television recordings.