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Martin Stauning

composer
1982
Martin Stauning © Caroline Bittencourt

Martin Stauning writes intense and evocative music. His works always have an immediate and sensuous quality demonstrating Stauning’s distinctive, personal lyrical expression.

A duality often characterizes his works. He frequently explores the tremendously dramatic sound and intense expression with large volume and clear form, immediately engaging and challenging the listener. He manages to turn that expression around, gradually dissolving the structure so that the music seeks within itself in a quiet dream world of beautiful soundscapes.

His works have been performed by orchestras and ensembles such as The Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Modern Academy, Mivos Quartet, Athelas Sinfonietta, Ensemble Storstrøm, SCENATET, Cikada String Quartet, Neo Quartet and Nordic String Quartet.

Until 2006, Martin Stauning was a dancer at the Royal Danish Ballet. He is educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Hans Abrahamsen, Bent Sørensen and Niels Rosing-Schow as his teachers. He has received several grants and awards, including the Carl Prize in 2017 and 2020, H.C. Lumbye / Agerby Legat 2018, Léonie Sonnings Talent Award 2016 and Axel Borup-Jørgensen Composer’s Award 2015.