GOODBYE RICHIE – A Concert in Memory of Richie Beirach

For a brief moment in January, the jazz scene in Leipzig came to a standstill when we received the sad news that Richie Beirach had passed away in his adopted home in the Palatinate.

Whether as a university professor, fellow musician, mentor, or friend: most of those who have been part of the Leipzig music scene over the past 25 years have, in one way or another, shared a common history with the American pianist. In 2000, following an appointment at the Leipzig University of Music and Theatre, he served there as a professor until his retirement in 2026. Even 11 years later, he remains vividly remembered there, a fact that can be attributed not only to his sometimes brilliant musical talent but also, and above all, to his human qualities.

The magnitude of this loss is also evident in the sheer number of artists who will gather on stage at Horns Erben this evening to commemorate Beirach’s musical and personal legacy. Joining Philipp Rumsch, Heinrich Köbberling, and Ralf Schrabbe will be Matthias Eichhorn, Werner Neumann, and other colleagues.