Fortner studied at the Konservatorium in Leipzig (composition with Hermann Grabner, a pupil of Max Reger and organ with Karl Straube), and went on to the University of Leipzig where he studied Musicology with Theodor Kroyer, Philosophy with Hans Driesch and German studies with Hermann August Korff.

5 April: The contract for Vier Marianische Antiphonen für Chor und Orchester (1928) inaugurated Fortner’s professional relationship with Schott.

Fortner finished his studies as a qualified teacher and became lecturer in composition and music theory at the Evangelische Kirchenmusikalische Institut of the Badischen Landeskirche in Heidelberg (today called the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Heidelberg), a post he holds until 1954 – only interrupted during the war.

Fortner and Wolfgang Steinecke (the former culture consultant and director for culture in Darmstadt) participated at the inauguration of the Kranichsteiner Ferienkurse für Neue Musik (today the International Holiday Course for New Music Darmstadt); Fortner lectured at the course until the late 50s.

Wolfgang Fortner worked in collaboration with the Süddeutsche Rundfunk in Heidelberg to set up the concert series Musica Viva

GEMA invites Fortner to become a member on its advisory council

Spohr–Preis, City of Braunschweig        

Fortner took a teaching post as Professor for Composition at the Nordwestdeutsche Musikakademie Detmold.

The Academy of Arts Berlin (west), invited Fortner to become a member – he later became chairman for music.

Fortner was invited to become a member of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Art.

Fortner took a position as Professor of Composition at the State High School for Music in Freiburg in Breisgau; 1964, the school set up the Institute for New Music at Fortner’s suggestion.

The Bach Prize of the Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg (following Paul Hindemith 1951, Phillipp Jarnach 1954, and Boris Blacher 1957)