In memoriam Dr Peter Hanser-Strecker (1942–2026)

“Music is the language of humanity.” Faithfully following this motto, Dr Peter Hanser-Strecker shaped not only the destiny of the Schott Music publishing house for over half a century but also acted as one of the most influential figures in the international world of music. With his passing on the evening of 22 January 2026, surrounded by his family in Wiesbaden, the cultural world loses a tireless visionary, an understated patron of the arts, and a publisher of the venerable tradition who instinctively knew how to balance courage for innovation with a respect for heritage. 

Born on 14 July 1942 in Munich, Peter Hanser-Strecker’s earliest childhood was marked by the turning points of the Second World War. The traumatic memory of the cuckoo call on the radio, as a warning for imminent air raids, remained one of the formative musical experiences of his life. After the early loss of his father, Heinz Hanser, in 1949, he found a new spiritual anchor in both the civic humanism of the Dilthey-Gymnasium in Wiesbaden and in music. 

His academic path of studying musicology and law in Mainz, Munich, and Frankfurt was a rare interdisciplinary achievement for the time and his 1968 doctorate on plagiarism in music laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to the protection of intellectual property – a topic that was to gain new, existential relevance in the era of digitalisation.  

Architect of Modernity and Technological Pioneer

On 1 October 1968 Peter joined his family business, Schott Music, which, as Managing Partner from 1974 and as Chairman of the Board from 1983, he transformed into a globally active media group. He was one of the first to recognise the signs of the digital revolution and under his guidance, Schott became a pioneer of digital music engraving and established a comprehensive web presence as early as the mid-90s, long before the industry fully grasped the scope of the internet. 

His publisher’s instinct was shaped by a deep curiosity for the unfamiliar and through the acquisition of the WERGO record label and collaborations with iconic composers such as György Ligeti, Krzysztof Penderecki and Carl Orff, he secured Schott’s leading international position in contemporary music. His travels took him as far as China, Russia and Japan, where he brought new musical voices to the publishing house, thus building bridges between cultures. At the same time, he oversaw the legacy of classical music with academic rigor, which manifested itself in hugely ambitions complete editions of Richard Wagner, Robert Schumann and Paul Hindemith.  

A Life for the Common Good 

Dr Hanser-Strecker’s civic engagement was far more than a mere duty; it was the expression of his deep humanist ethos. In numerous honorary positions – including President of the German Music Publishers Association and an honorary member of GEMA – he fought tirelessly for the interests of serious classical music and its creators. 

Philanthropy was particularly close to his heart. With the founding of the Pro Musica Viva – Maria Strecker-Daelen Foundation, he helped with the rediscovery of works by forgotten composers, while the Strecker Foundation continues to promote musical education for children and young people today. His work knew no geographical boundaries and as a close friend of Karlheinz Böhm he was committed for decades to the Ethiopia aid organisation “Menschen für Menschen”. The award of Germany’s “Great Cross of Merit” in 2014 was the deserved recognition for a life that put the well-being of others first.  

Life and Work 

Beyond his desk at the publishing house, Peter Hanser-Strecker was a person of great intellectual breadth. He was an organist, a passionate photographer and painter, a connoisseur of Asian art and an enthusiastic sportsman who enjoyed skiing and cycling.  

His private sanctuary was always his family. He was married to the teacher Ingrid Hanser-Strecker for over 50 years and in their home in Wiesbaden lived in a multi-generational household surrounded by his children Saskia, Emanuel and Yara, as well as his nine grandchildren.  

Even during his lifetime, Dr Peter Hanser-Strecker ensured the continuity of his life's work. With the transfer of ownership of Schott Music to the Strecker Foundation in 2024, he ensured that the publishing house remains independent and can continue to dedicate itself unreservedly to the promotion of art and academia. His daughter Saskia Osterhold continues this legacy with her role on the foundation's board.    

We say goodbye to a great European whose wisdom, kindness and inexhaustible drive we will miss. Whilst there will be an empty presence at Schott’s Weihergarten home, his spirit will live on in every bar of music that our publishing house shares with the world.  

Schott Music 
Mainz, January 2026  

photo: Susanna Storch