Kasper Beck Hemmingsen

Kasper Beck Hemmingsen (b.1973) studied Choral Conducting and Ensemble Conducting at the North Jutland Academy of Music, and graduated in 2003 with a Diploma in Classical Music Pedagogy.

Since graduating, he has worked as a conductor with many different ensembles, as well as teaching conducting.

Teaching

At the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Kasper teaches students in the General Music Teaching (AM) programme, and in choral conducting in Organ/Church music. He also teaches choral conducting and choral singing in the University of Copenhagen's Department of Musicology, and at Sjællands Kirkemusikskole (Zealand School of Church Music).

"As a teacher of choral conducting, my principal task is to equip the student with methodology and tools that the student can use in his or her own musical work, and to provide guidance on the basis of the student’s musical level for their development in all aspects of choral work, such as music and text comprehension, rehearsal methodology, musical formation and leadership” – Kasper Beck Hemmingsen

Artistic practice

Since 1994 Kasper has conducted choirs at many different levels, and for several years he has been the permanent conductor of Kammerkoret Carmina (Carmina Chamber Music Choir) and UAK (the Young Academics’ Choir). In his work as a choir conductor, he has amongst other things established two projects with new choral music for new texts: Moderne Jul 2012 (Modern Christmas 2012) and Moderne Sommer 2020/21 (Modern Summer 2020/21), with the overall aim of inspiring composers to continue composing choral music. He has premiered Danish choral music by Ib Nørholm, Bo Gunge, Svend Hvidtfeldt Nielsen, Phillip Faber, Pernille Louise Sejlund, Søren Birch and Per Drud Nielsen, amongst others.

Over the years, Kasper has been orchestra conductor and choirmaster on several occasions, not least in connection with the productions of OPERAkompaniet and Aarhus KammerOpera. He has also given several workshops and courses, including at the Kor72 choral festivals.

Work list and events

Own compositions

• Da Pacem, Domine - SATB
• Månekuglen, lyrics by Piet Hein - SATB
• Solskinsrekrutter, lyrics by Kasper Beck Hemmingsen - SATB
• Stævnemødet, lyrics by Henrik Pontoppidan - SSAA
• Vandring i skoven, lyrics by Hans Christian Andersen - SATB          
• Månekuglen, lyrics by Piet Hein - SATB

Kasper has also written a new melody to N.S.F. Grundtvig’s lyrics Hvad er det, min Marie!

Arrangements

• C.A. Polenz, Sven Gyldmark: Bornholm Medley, lyrics by Hans Christian Andersen, Erik Leth - SATB
• Egil Harder: Den blå anemone, lyrics by Kaj Munk - SATB
• Joseph Klug: Den yndigste rose er funden, lyrics by H.A. Brorson  
• Henrik Rung: Kimer, I klokker, lyrics by N.S.F. Grundtvig                  
• Joseph Klug: Lad det klinge sødt i sky, lyrics by N.S.F. Grundtvig, Arvid Pedersen
• Trad.: We Wish You a Merry Christmas - SAB

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