Thorsten Ahlrichs began playing the organ at the age of eleven and was influenced in his youth by the organ landscape of Oldenburg's churches with their many historic organs. He studied church music and harpsichord at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre with professors Pieter van Dijk, Menno van Delft, Andreas Rondthaler and Hannelotte Pardall. He then worked as an assistant at St Peter's Church in Hamburg. Thereafter, he acted as a cantor and organist in Kaltenkirchen and in Floro (Norway). From 2015 to 2024, he held the position of district cantor in the Delmenhorst/Oldenburg-Land church district, based at the St Cyprian and Cornelius Church in Ganderkesee with its Arp Schnitger organ (1699/1760). In March 2024, he took up the position of church district cantor in the church district of Stade. As organist of St Cosmae et Damiani in Stade, he plays on the world-famous Hus-Schnitger organ from 1675.
He can also be heard at numerous concerts on historical organs, is a member of various juries and is involved in educational projects relating to the organ. One focus of his work is teaching children about the organ.
