Sir Karl Jenkins B.Mus. FRAM LRAM
Nominated for Culture award
Raised in Penclawdd, Karl was educated at Gowerton Grammar School, Cardiff University and the Royal Academy of Music, London. A 2011 global survey shows that he is now the most performed living composer in the world - The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace alone has been performed over 1,700 times since its millennium premiere, including one in New York on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. His recorded output has resulted in 17 gold and platinum disc awards with several gaining No.1 status in the UK Classical chart.
His style and integrity has transcended musical boundaries encompassing jazz-rock with Soft Machine, the global ‘crossover’ phenomenon Adiemus, soundtracks for Levis and British Airways, while stopping off along the way to score a Kiefer Sutherland movie, being a castaway on BBC ‘Desert Island Discs’, being featured by Melvyn Bragg on the ITV seminal South Bank Show and being awarded the Freedom of the City of London. Recordings include: Requiem, Stabat Mater, Quirk, Gloria, Te Deum, The Peacemakers, whilst he’s composed music for HRH The Prince of Wales, Bryn Terfel, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Evelyn Glennie and the London Symphony Orchestra.
He holds Fellowships, Doctorates and Professorships at 5 universities or conservatoires, including the RAM, where a room has been named in his honour. Since 2004, he has consistently been the highest placed living composer in Classic FM’s ‘Hall of Fame’. Several honours followed: Cymru For The World Award, the Hopkins Medal given by the St. David’s Society for the State of New York; the ‘Order of Merit – Knight’s Cross’ by the President of Hungary; President of the friends of The NYOW; the Classic FM ‘Red f ‘award for ‘outstanding service to classical music’ and he was made a CBE in the 2010 Birthday Honours List ‘.
In 2014 he established ‘The Arts Club Karl Jenkins Award’, to help young musicians entering the profession.