Kenneth Karlsson started playing improv/rock with friends in his youth before his interest in classical music was awoken. After a few years he started studying at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, with further studies in the Netherlands. Since then, Karlsson has worked as a pianist in the fields of contemporary classical & classical music. In the 1980s and 90s, he was a member of groups such as Ensemble K4, Oslo Sinfonietta, Aquarius, and has since enjoyed a collaboration with mezzo-soprano Hilde Torgersen for over 20 years. Kenneth Karlsson has been the pianist & artistic director of the ensemble Cikada since 1989. He plays in an improvisation duo with percussionist Ingar Zach. He also has a duo with the soprano Elisabeth Holmertz - together they lead the group Vollen United, an experimental cross-genre group mixing baroque contemporary-classical, pop, and improvisation. Karlsson has toured the world & recorded a number of albums. In 2001, he received Spellemannprisen – the Norwegian Grammy – for his solo album Sofferte Onde Serene. In 2005, Cikada received the Nordic Council Music Prize. Karlsson has also worked with video, dance and multimedia and is behind a number of commissioned works and premieres. He has collaborated with musicians and composers such as Klaus Lang, Clara Ianotta, James Dillon, Carola Bauckholt, Rolf Wallin et al. In addition to piano, Karlsson plays the Indian harmonium and the synthesiser. Photos: Siv Dolmen, Anna-Julia Granberg (avatar)