Karl Jenkins

Bio

Sir Karl Jenkins is a Welsh composer, conductor and instrumentalist born in 1944 in Gower, Wales. He first gained prominence in the 1970s as a member of the jazz-rock band Soft Machine, playing keyboards and saxophone. Since the 1990s he has focused on classical and choral composition, achieving international success with the crossover project Adiemus and later with major works such as The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. His style blends classical, world-music and minimalist elements, often featuring Latin and invented languages. He has received numerous awards including the Classic BRIT Award and was knighted in 2015 for services to composing and conducting. Notable collaborators include the London Philharmonic Orchestra and choirs worldwide.