About Nicolai Kornerup

Nicolai Kornerup is an established Danish pianist and composer with a background in classical, rhythmical and folk music.

Danish pianist and composer Nicolai Kornerup creates a musical journey that reaches from the nordic melancholic impressionism to the vibrant and passionate Eastern European musical tradition. The music invites both the joy of dance and the catharsis of sorrow. His music connects all the way from the classical way of composing for string and wind instruments, through jazz infused improvisation to folk music and back - and yes he also plays the accordion.

On his new and third album he is alongside bassist Jakob Roland and drummer Henrik Holst Hansen. Together, in the classic piano trio format they craft a mesmerizing blend of scandinavian lyricism and warm, woody resonance.

He received the Carl Prize for Best Composition, and his album Circles was praised by danish newspaper Information: "Circles is the latest in a series of musical triumphs from Nicolai Kornerup, an album that will bring warmth and sensitivity to listeners. Kornerup is melodically ambitious and multifaceted. His acoustic sound is simple and inviting, with a deliberate grounding in Nordic folk music and jazz."

With his orchestra Mames Babegenush, he has performed worldwide, including at Carnegie Hall, the Bergen International Festival, and the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. The group was nominated for Album of the Year at the Danish Music Awards.

As a composer, he has written for the Dresden Staatskapelle, the DR Big Band, and the Copenhagen Philharmonic, collaborating with artists such as Kwamie Liv, Soleima, Benjamin Koppel, LiveStrings, Perfume Genius, Rasmus Walter, Thomas Dybdahl, The Danish Radio Big Band, AyOwA, Gitta Maria Sjøberg, Andrea Pellegrini, Danish String Quartet, MAGT and Sofie Lund. He also composed the music for Thomas Vinterberg’s series Families Like Ours.