Johann Gottfried Schicht (1753-1823) was a German conductor and composer. He was born in Reichenau, near Zittau, in Saxony, Germany, and owed his education to an uncle. He went to Leipzig University in 1776, intending to study law, but gradually adopted music, and was soon chosen by Johann Adam Hiller as solo clavier-player at his concerts.



On Hiller's retirement Johann Gottfried Schicht succeeded him as musical director of the Leipzig Gewandhaus concerts in 1785. In 1802 he founded the Singakademie. At length in he 1810 rose to the head of his profession as Kantor of the Thomasschule. He died in Leipzig, leaving many large works (oratorios, masses, cantatas, four Te Deums, a setting of the 100th Psalm, a piano concerto, sonatas and caprices). He is especially remembered for his Allgemeines Choralbuch (1819). He also left a translation of the Pianoforte Schools of Pleyel and Clementi, and of Pellegrini-Celoni's Singing Method, etc., but his most important legacy was an edition of J.S. Bach's motets (B. & H. 1802-1803).