Ketil Haugsand

Ketil Haugsand, professor of harpsichord at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne, counts as one of the great harpsichordists and Early Music personalities of today – appearing in many prestigious festivals and concert series in Europe, the U.S.A. and Israel, both as recitalist, in chamber music, or as leader and conductor of the Norwegian Baroque Orchestra, the Arte Real Ensemble, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, the Oslo Radio Orchestra and at the Komische Oper Berlin.

His recordings on CD with works by Rameau, Marchand, Seixas, Sousa Carvalho &c., for Simax, Virgin and Linn have won significant international acclaim. His interpretations of the Clavierübungen by J.S. Bach – and especially the Goldberg Variations – have been singled out as highly original and outstanding landmark performances.

The Norwegian born musician studied with Gustav Leonhardt at the Amsterdam Conservatory, where he was awarded the coveted Prix d’Excellence in 1975. Later he was laureate at international harpsichord competitions in Paris and Brûges.

Prof. Haugsand is one of the most sought-after harpsichord teachers on the academic level today; he also gives regularly summer courses in Norway and Portugal and is frequently invited as jury member at international harpsichord competitions.

Major Accomplishments

Artistic activity:

  • Appeared as harpsichord recitalist, soloist, in chamber music or as conductor/leader at major festivals or concert series in most European countries, Israel and the U.S. – i.e: Utrecht Festival voor Oude Muziek; Paris Festival Estival; Bergen Festival; Stavanger Intl. Chamber Musik Festival; Stavanger Symphony Orchestra; Berlin Komische Oper; Tage Alte Musik Berlin; Regensburg Tage Alte Musik; Bad Arolsen Festival; Niedersächsische Musiktage; St.Paul Schubert Club; Minneapolis Lyra Concert Baroque Orchestra; Berkeley Early Music Festival; Jerusalem Festival; Lisboa Expo ’98; Açores Festival, &c.
  • Recorded for radio/television for NRK, SR, DR, BBC, WDR, NDR, RTF, RTP, RTBF, NOS, &c. – all major European national broadcasting services.
  • CD recordings for labels like SIMAX, LINN, EMI, VIRGIN and ADDA – with major international critical acclaim.

Teaching activity

Full time:

  • From 1974 thru 1995 professor at The Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo.
  • In 1994 appointed as professor at the Hochschule für Musik Köln (- the State Academy of Music Cologne).

Summer courses, Workshops:

  • The Ringve International Summer Course of Early Music, Trondheim, Norway, since 1982
  • Academia de Musica Antiga de Lisboa, Portugal, since 1991
  • Workshop for Early Music, Jerusalem, between 1987 and 1991
  • Casa de Mateus, Portugal, ’81; ’86 thru ’90
  • Amhearst Early Music Workshop, 1991 and 2002

Member of jury at international competitions for harpsichord in:

  • Brûges
  • Leipzig
  • Warsaw
  • Hamburg
  • Prague

Grants and Prizes:

  • Several full-time grants from the Norwegin government for studies abroad, 1970-75
  • prize winner at international competitions for harpsichor in Paris, ’79 and Brûges, ’80