Biography

Karl Jenkins

Karl and the LPO

Jenkins, Karl (b.Penclawdd,Wales 1944)

Karl Jenkins was born in 1944 in Penclawdd , a small village on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales.He began playing the Piano at six, taking lessons from his father, who was also the local chapel choirmaster, and schoolteacher. He started studying the Oboe at Gowerton Grammar School, and eventually became principle of the NYOW. After gaining his B.Mus at Cardiff University in Classical Composition, he moved to London to pursue postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music, of which he is now an Associate.

Having become increasingly interested in Jazz in his teenage years, Karl took up the Saxophone, and began playing around London. Before long he had built up a name for himself, and after teaming with Ronnie Scott for a period of time, he co-founded Nucleus, a Jazz Rock Group.

Soft Machine and Beyond…

After Nucleus won the first prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Karl joined the group ‘Soft Machine’ – one of the most progressive bands of the 70’s. Karl wrote a large body of work for the group in the time they were together. They performed at many world-renowned venues, including the ‘Carnegie Hall’(New York) and the Proms (Albert Hall – London).

Following the demise of Soft Machine, Karl entered the world of Media Composition, writing for Cinema and T.V Adverts. He won the ‘D&AD’ award for best music twice, and the prestigious Creative Circle ‘Gold’.

Adiemus and back to the NYOW.

The past years have seen Karl as a difficult composer to categorise, especially with the ongoing ‘Adiemus’ Project. With roots lying in many different fields, he has created a sound which is instantly recognisable as ‘him’ – a unique style.

His commissions come from a variety of sources – the Royal Ballet (Loves Fool) to his Orchestra as a child – the NYOW (Scenes from Wales). He shows no signs of stopping, and is still topping the charts, both classical and pop, with his music.