Reinhard Jaud was born in Innsbruck and studied piano in his home city. Thereafter he completed organ degrees at the Conservatories of Vienna and Salzburg. He completed his studies cum laude in 1975. Initially under the influence of Michel Chapuia, and the Isnard organ at St Maximin, Jaud became fascinated with historic instruments and performance practices related to early music.
He has been organist and custodian of the 1558 Ebert organ in the Hofkirche in Innsbruck since 1977, in which year he also began teaching organ at the Innsbruck Conservatory. He subsequently became the Cathedral organist of the same city in 1987. Jaud is internationally active as a concert organist, recording artist and teacher and has been invited to sit on the juries of various international organ competitions.
His recording of organ works by Christian Erbach (1984) was awarded the prize of the German record critics. Reinhard Jaud was also awarded the Jakob Stainer prize in 1990 from the local government of the Tyrol for his achievements as a performer of early music. In 2005 he received an honorary professorship.
