Benedikte Damgård

My Education: My mentors throughout my youth were Gunnar Tagmose, Serguei Azizian, Tim Frederiksen, Jens Elvekjær, Gerhard Schulz, and many many more in master classes and lessons. I have done a Soloist Class and Chamber Music Class diplomas at DKDM (Royal Danish Academy of Music).

My favourite musical composition: It changes depending on what I’m into at the time 

My greatest musical experience: I can’t pinpoint just one experience. Early musical experiences leave a great impression. I grew up surrounded by music, and that early joy and curiosity about music run deep. I lived in Berlin for a while and enjoyed countless amazing concerts; a particularly vivid memory is of Janine Jansen playing Szymanowski’s “Three Myths”. I’ve  also performed quite a bit in Asia—including  many places where classical music was a new thing —and there is something special about playing for an audience listening with fresh, curious ears, free from preconceptions and with no prior frame of reference for the music being played. Then there was the first time I played “Romeo and Juliet” with the Kapel… I love Prokofiev’s music and “Romeo and Juliet” is a beautiful, explosive masterpiece—and I feel it was brought to life magnificently.

My most memorable/funny/unusual experience in the Kapel: I had played a concert where someone bumped into my violin and chipped off a tiny piece… and I felt pretty bad about it. The next day, I played in the Kapel, and after the performance, we sat backstage talking; people started sharing stories they’d heard about the little accidents involving instruments that happen from time to time… there were lots of amusing anecdotes, and it was a lovely way to share experiences—it really made me feel better. 🙂

When I’m not playing in the Kapel: I hang out with my boyfriend and our little son, train crossfit, cook good slow food, have a nice break with nice friends.