Arnold Kempkens

German composer, conductor and choir leader, born December 4th, 1923 in Duisburg; died January 10th, 2001 in Mülheim/Ruhr. He studied music in Cologne and was then choir leader at the theatre in Braunschweig. He returned to Düsseldorf in 1960, where he became lecturer at the university for music. There, he also led the university choir for 20 years. He composed more than 60 musical works and was rewarded e.g. with the Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande. Further activities after 1980 were leader positions in different choirs and activities for the German rights society GEMA.