Martina van Lengerich studied instrumental pedagogy and piano with Albrecht Schwinger at the Robert Schumann Music University in Düsseldorf, and went on to obtain a degree in Catholic Church Music (A-Examen) with Almut Rößler (organ) and Raimund Wippermann (choral and orchestral conducting) and Volker Hempfling. During her studies, van Lengerich also participated in many additional courses and masterclasses led by Frieder Bernius, Anders Eby, Eric Ericson, Gary Graden, Uwe Gronostay, Hermann Max, Knut Nystedt, and Alexander Wagner.
Van Lengerich has served as an assistant and répétiteur for the Johanneskantorei in Düsseldorf as well as the Cathedral Choir and Girls’ Choir at the Essen Cathedral. Between 1989 and 1995 she taught piano at the Neuss Music School and for over six years conducted the choir (which she founded) at the Academy of Arts in Düsseldorf. This gave her the opportunity to conduct many of the best sacred and secular choral/orchestral works. From 1996 to 2003, she was the music director for three churches in Coesfeld (in Münsterland, North Rhine-Westphalia), where she led choirs of all ages and undertook large-scale performances.
In 2003, van Lengerich was appointed cathedral choirmaster of the Freiburg Cathedral. Since then she has been responsible for both the Girls’ Choir and the Kantorenschola. In addition, she also teaches voice and leads choir conducting workshops for the Arch-Diocese of Freiburg.
Under Lengerich’s leadership, the Freiburg Cathedral Girls’ Choir has developed an especially outstanding reputation, which extends well beyond the city itself. There have been numerous concerts at home and abroad with Lengerich assuming the duties of choir director, conductor, organist, and accompanist. She has also made radio and television broadcasts, has premiered new works, and recorded compact discs. In addition, she has served on the jury of the German Choral Competition. In July, 2014 she became co-editor of the prestigious Musik und Kirche journal
