Hermann Bönicke was born in 1821 in Endorf, Saxony. He came to Hermannstadt (Sibiu) as town cantor and organist of the Protestant main church as well as high school and seminar teacher. From 1862 he was simultaneously music director and teacher of the choir school of the music association, was choir master of the male choral society and also worked as a piano teacher. His role for the musical life of Sibiu is extremely important. He established the foundation for a high quality musical cultivation which extended into the rest of the country. For the first time in Transylvania he performed works by Bach, Handel and Brahms. As an organist, Bönicke frequently played Bach's organ works and advocated the old art of improvisation.
Bönicke composed an opera (Der Liebesring) as well as cantatas, motets, choirs and songs on vocal works. In addition, there are serenades, overtures and suites for orchestra as well as piano and organ works. His educational endeavors included a piano school for beginners, an art of free organ playing (1861), and two schools for singing.
