Lothar Kempter was a German-Swiss composer and conductor.
Background
He was born in 1844 in Lauingen. His father was music teacher Friedrich Kempter. Following his father"s wishes he started studying law at the University of Munich.
In 1868, after his father had died, he changed to studying music
Education
At the Royal Music Academy in Munich he studied Musical ensemble with Hans von Bülow, composition with Josef Rheinberger, choir singing with Franz Wüllner, and piano with Carl Baermann.
Career
Early life and education
In 1871, he moved to Magdeburg, where he became second Kapellmeister of the orchestra of Stadttheater Magdeburg. He then conducted for three years the orchestra at the Strasbourg theatre. In 1875 he became Kapellmeister at the Aktientheather in Zürich, a position which he held until 1915.
In 1879 he became director of the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich.
In 1886 he began teaching music theory and composition at the Zurich Conservatory (merged in 1999 into the School of Music, Drama, and Dance (HMT), itself merged in 2007 into the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)). In 1892 he became a citizen of Zürich.
In 1911 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Zurich. Later life
Both were singers at the Stadttheater Zurich.
He died in Vitznau.