About me

I have always called the Palatinate home, between the Rhine and the vines. I was born and raised here, and I live here with my young family: my wife and our sons.

Our chosen home is Sankt Martin, a small and beautiful village in the Palatinate. We live in a quiet corner, very close to the Palatinate Forest.

I grew up in Haßloch with an older brother. From the start, music and the Catholic Church shaped my life. I began learning the piano at the age of six, and for a while I also played the drums. The piano was missing something for me; I found it in the saxophone. I played in the school band, the Jugendblasorchester (youth wind orchestra) and on various other occasions. I also put my percussion experience to use in the Musikverein Haßloch.

Even after moving away from Haßloch, I remained an active tenor in the Catholic church’s “Lebenstöne” singing group for many years. We also put on our own a cappella concerts with a small group of around twelve singers.

Throughout secondary school, I was always active in at least one extracurricular group: the school choir, big band, stage crew for school events, library team, student council or model railway club. I am sure I have forgotten at least one.

Life eventually took me away from Haßloch. After my childhood and early teens there, I spent the rest of my youth in Neustadt an der Weinstraße.

Back in Haßloch, I also got involved in local community life and helped to organise the open-air cinema for several years.

After finishing school, I was due to complete the compulsory military service that was still customary at the time. I refused to serve in the armed forces and instead did civilian service at the Blaubär youth and culture centre in Haßloch. There I was able to draw on much of what I had learnt growing up: working with children and young people, organising events and running a performance stage. Most of all, I was able to answer whether I wanted to work permanently in social care, perhaps as a social pedagogue.

Further work placements, which I took on after civilian service while waiting to start training or university, confirmed it: I wanted to develop software.

All of this shaped me and taught me that I can approach life with courage and an open mind. That helps me achieve a great deal. For the things that do not work out, I have my sense of humour and valuable feedback from those around me.

With a healthy dose of pessimism, nothing is possible.

Just as I treat others with respect, I can trust that they will treat me with respect too. That applies both to my respect for other people and to my humility in the face of great achievements and the natural world.

In my spare time, I enjoy walking in nature and taking in the things that make it special. My house and garden are still a little challenge, with plenty of room for improvement.

Musically, I am now learning the bagpipes. I do not play regularly with a group at the moment, but perhaps that will come.

My model railway is another winter project, with plenty left to keep me busy.

There is more about these interests in the “Hobbies” section.

Protecting our environment, both the natural world and our society, matters deeply to me. It motivates me every day to do good and avoid doing harm.

Be part of the solution – not part of the problem.