As a teacher, Siegfried Thiele has had an impact in the eastern part of Germany comparable to that of Rudolf Wagner-Régeny after World War II. His thorough grasp of the subject, cheerfulness of demeanor and adept methodology also contribute to the high esteem that Thiele has enjoyed in the public eye. But it was only the democratic changes emanating from Leipzig in autumn 1989 that enabled him to be elected rector of the Musikhochschule in the following summer. Thiele found models for his close interplay of composition, performance and teaching particularly in Paul Hindemith, Béla Bartók and Carl Orff. The confessional aspect of Thiele's oeuvre is evident in each of his works.