Joseph Drechsler

Joseph Drechsler (26 May 1782 – 27 February 1852) was an Austrian organist, teacher, composer and conductor; in Vienna he was organist and choirmaster at several churches, and theatre conductor and composer of incidental music.

Drechsler was born in Wällisch Birken, (Vlachovo Březí, now in the Czech Republic), son of a teacher.

He was a choirboy in Passau and in Vornbach Abbey, where he studied basso continuo with the organist Dionys Grotz.

In 1824, he succeeded Franz Volkert as theatre conductor at the Theater in der Leopoldstadt, remaining until 1830.

From 1844 to 1852 he was director of music at St Stephen's Cathedral, succeeding Johann Baptist Gänsbacher.