New President for the Royal Danish Academy of Music
The Board of the Royal Danish Academy of Music (RDAM) has appointed Helene Gjerris as the Academy’s new President, with effect from 1 August 2024. Helene Gjerris has been employed since 2016 as professor and head of department in the vocal department at RDAM. Helene Gjerris replaces Niels Rosing-Schow, who has been temporarily employed as President.
Board chairperson Kim Bohr states:
“With the appointment of Helene Gjerris, the Royal Danish Academy of Music will gain a recognised artist and a highly experienced teacher and head of department as its new President. Through her many years as a professor and head of department at RDAM, and prior to that at the Danish National Academy of Music, she has successfully managed to develop the study programmes through her deep knowledge of both the students and the employment market. Under Helene Gjerris’ leadership, and in collaboration with the staff of the Academy, we on the Board look forward to supporting the extremely important work of educating the coming generations of artists at RDAM.”
Helene Gjerris, coming President of RDAM, says:
“I am very much looking forward to investing my efforts in the continued development of RDAM’s unique study programmes. In collaboration with the students, teachers, technical-administrative staff and the Board, I will work to profile RDAM as a modern educational and cultural institution in both Danish and international contexts. Together, we must create a framework for the Academy which ensures that our graduates are academically excellent, generous and courageous artists and teachers who can contribute to the artistic and musical life of our society. Until 1 August 2024, I will focus on completing my duties as professor of Voice and, in close cooperation with the management of the Academy, secure the transition to the coming academic year.”
About the new President
Helene Gjerris studied at RDAM and École Philippe Gaulier in London. She made her debut from RDAM’s soloist class (Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Music) in 1997, and in 2007, she completed a Master’s programme in Elite Vocal Pedagogy. Since 2003, she has held positions as a teacher at conservatory level alongside her performing career as a singer. From 2016 on, Helene Gjerris has been professor of Voice at RDAM and, as head of department, has continuously worked to develop the Academy’s vocal programme and the programme of the Opera Academy. She has moreover been responsible for managing a large number of major interdisciplinary artistic projects at the Academy.
In the years 2021-2022, Helene Gjerris participated in the Ministry of Culture’s structural committee for the reform of artistic education. This work resulted, amongst other things, in proposals to strengthen the management through the creation of boards, and to increase the focus on artistic practice.
Helene Gjerris has worked on several artistic research projects and has presented these at international conferences. She has held master classes in Milan, Beijing, Shanghai and at the Eastman College of Music in New York, and has taken part in teacher exchange collaborations with the Paris Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music in London.
Helene Gjerris has worked extensively as an alto and mezzosoprano soloist in opera, lied and oratorios in Denmark and abroad. She has performed roles in the standard classical operatic repertoire alongside roles in modern operas and musical drama, including the production of Kaija Saariaho’s L’Amour de Loin at the Bergen International Festival. She also appeared in the premiere performance of Per Nørgård’s The Will o’ the Wisps Go to Town with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and toured with his opera Nuit des Hommes to festivals in London, Paris and Hamburg.
With the ensemble Figura, she has presented contemporary works of musical drama and new concert formats, and she has worked with free improvisation and cabaret. Helene Gjerris also has an extensive discography with the emphasis on Danish music.
About RDAM
The Royal Danish Academy of Music educates classical musicians and music educators through Bachelor and Master programmes as well as an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Music. RDAM must train graduates who will both develop musical life and meet its need for highly qualified graduates. The Academy has a strong international profile and a number of close international co-operative relations, including teaching and other activities on various digital platforms.
With a point of departure in artistic practice, research and development, the Academy continuously contributes to the artistic and societal relevance of the study programmes, and RDAM annually holds a large number of concerts, festivals and other externally oriented events. The Academy currently has around 400 students, 50 permanent teachers, 30 technical-administrative staff and more than 120 part-time teachers.
