Kenneth Karlsson

About Kenneth Karlsson

Kenneth Karlsson was born in Åmål, Sweden. He began playing electric bass with a few friends when he was around 17 years old, but was eventually assigned to the piano by those same friends. While he was playing in different rock/jazz groups he became interested in classical music and after a few years began his studies at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, with further studies in the Netherlands.

Since then, Karlsson has worked as a pianist within classical and modern classical music. In the 80s and 90s he was a member of groups such as Ensemble K4, Oslo Sinfonietta, and Aquarius, and has worked with mezzo-soprano Hilde Torgersen for more than 20 years. He has also played in several improvisational groups throughout the years, most recently the quartet Point 4 with Jon Balke, Ingar Zach, and Bjørn Rabben.

Kenneth Karlsson has been the pianist and artistic leader of Cikada since 1989. Karlsson is also part of a duo with soprano Elisabeth Holmertz and together they lead the group Vollen United, an experimental genre-crossing ensemble blending baroque, current classical, pop, and improvisation. Kenneth Karlsson has toured around the world and has recorded a number of CDs.

In 2001 he received a Spellemannpris (Norwegian Grammy Award) for his solo CD sofferte onde serene. In 2005, his ensemble Cikada received the Nordic Council Music Prize. Karlsson has collaborated with musicians and composers such as Klaus Lang, James Dillon, Carola Bauckholt, Liza Lim, Bent Sørensen, Richard Barrett, and Rolf Wallin.

Karlsson also plays the Indian harmonium and synthesizer.