Biographical Sketch

Kai Stensgaard was among the first Scandinavian musicians to approach the marimba as a serious solo instrument. Throughout the last 15 years he has toured extensively and given more than 4.000 concerts in various venues in Northern Europe, U.S.A, Puerto Rico and Mexico, along with numerous radio and television broadcasts. He was recognized in 1989 as the first recipient of the North Jutland Music Award. He has produced four CDs displaying the marimba's myriad of textures.

His first CD “Marimba Classic”, consisted of transcriptions of classical music for marimba. His second CD “Ballet in Dark” is a collection of newly composed marimba music, including a composition for marimba and symphony orchestra. by Martin Knakkergaard. This piece was later choreographed for performance on the stage by a dancer from the Royal Danish Ballet. His third CD “Singing Wood” is inspired by Central American folk music as well as displaying a wide range of Kai Stensgaard's performance repertoire. Among this repertoire are several pieces featuring the six-mallet grip, in which Kai Stensgaard is a specialist. On his fourth CD “Calabash” he is playing duo with the Danish saxophone player Jakob Mygind. His fifth CD "Marimba Music by Kai Stensgaard (2007) shows his works for marimba.

Curriculum Vitae:

2007                   Trip to Chiapas, Mexico with students from The Royal Danish Conservatory of Music

2007                   Release of CD "Marimba Music by Kai Stensgaard"

2006                   World premiere of my concerto "Concierto Mexicano" for marimba & Symf.

2006                   Marimba performance at PASIC 2006 in Austin, Texas, USA

2006                 “Marimbas on Tour” in Denmark with Marimba Nandayapa, Mexico

2005                  Marimba recital and clinic tour in 6 states of USA

2005                 Marimba Duo tour in Denmark with G.A.Vedela from Argentina

2004                 “Marimbas on Tour” in Denmark with Marimba Nandayapa, Mexico

2004                 Marimba solo & clinic in Patagonia, Argentina

2003                Marimba solo Centro National de las Artes, Mexico City

2002                Marimba solo recitals and Masterclass Alicante, Spain

2002                Marimba solo recitals in Mexico City

2001                 Marimba recital and clinic tour in 7 states of USA

2001                 Marimba solo recital in Belgium at the First International Marimba Competition

2001                 “Marimbas on Tour” in Denmark with Marimba Nandayapa, Mexico and D.Ganeva

2001                 Marimba solo recital in the Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, London

2001                 Marimba solo recitals in Mexico City

2001                 Marimba soloist at 7^th. Festival International Percussion, Puerto Rico

2000                 Marimba soloist at 6^th. Festival International Percusión, Puerto Rico

2000                 Master class at San Juan Music Conservatorio, Puerto Rico

1999                                  Marimba soloist at 1^st.International Marimba Festival in Chiapaz, Mexico

1999                 Master classes in Chiapas, Mexico

1999                 Member of the jury in Mexican Solo Marimba Contest in Tuxtla Guiterres, Mexico

1998                                  Freelance musician and composer

1997                 Duo ”Calabash” saxophone and marimba

1995-96            Timpanist in Odense Symphony Orchestra

1992                 World premier of Knakkergaards ”Ballet in Dark” a concerto for marimba and symphony orchestra with the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra

1991                 Marimba soloist at Scandinavian Percussion Festival, Stockholm arranged by ”Croumata Percussion Ensemble”

1991                 Marimba soloist ved Deutsches Percussion Symposium, Hannover

1990-95            Conductor of Nordjysk Musikkonservatoriums Percussion ensemble

1989                 Nordjyllands Amts Music Award

1987                 Study of percussion music in Bali

1986                 Trip to Chiapas and Guatemala to study the origin of the marimba

1984-95            Professor of marimba and percussion at Nordjysk Music Conservatorium

1981-82            Marimba solo study with Leigh H. Stevens, New York City,USA

1979-80            Marimba study with Karen Ervin, California State University, USA

CD´s:

“Calabash”, saxophone & marimba 2001

"Singing Wood", solo marimba, concert repertoire 1997

"Ballet in Dark", solo marimba , contemporary music 1994

"Marimba Classic", solo marimba  1988

Compositions:

Spanish Dance, marimba solo

Manzanilla, marimba solo (six mallets)

Lain Nebaj, marimba solo (six mallets)

Triglyf I, marimba solo

Frutta Fresca, vibrafon & marimba duo

Madinga, balafon solo

Pieces of Wood, sax & marimba duo/vibraphone & marimba duo

Rain Forest, sax & marimba duo

“Salsa Mexicana”, marimba solo (six mallets)

Menuette in Jazz: Bach/Stensgaard, sax & marimba duo

Transcriptions:

Asturias Leyenda by I.Albeniz

Gloria from “Misa Creolla” by A.Ramirez (six mallets)

Cello Suite no 3 in C Major by J.S.Bach

Laudate Domino by W.A.Mozart, sax & marimba duo

African Market Place by A.Ibrahim, sax & marimba duo

Gnossiennes I by E.Satie, sax & marimba duo

Study for the Left Hand by B.Bartok, sax & marimba duo

Commissioned works:

Mobile I by Martin Knakkergaard, solo marimba

Mobile II by Martin Knakkergaard, solo marimba

Mobile III by Martin Knakkergaard, solo marimba

“Ballet in Dark” a concert for marimba and orchestra by Martin Knakkergaard

Sonoris IV, Opus 205 by E.D.Bjerno, solo marimba