Jonas Rasmussen (*1992) is the conductor of Academic Choir Aarhus, Youth Choir Aarhus U and Ensemble Novum. He also teaches classical choral conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus and is highly active as a composer, arranger and content creator.
As a conductor, he has received numerous international accolades with his choirs, including victories at the World Choral Championships, Let the Peoples Sing, and the European Choir Games, as well as most recently winning 1st prize at the 20th Gheorghe Dima International Music Competition for Conductors. He has also led several acclaimed album releases, including Efterklange – the complete choral works of Svend S. Schultz.
As a composer and arranger, Jonas has created works that are regularly performed by choirs across Denmark. His musical language balances tradition and innovation, with a strong sense of melodic beauty and harmonic richness. In 2025, ten of his hymn arrangements of melodies by Marianne Søgaard was published by Mixtur Publishing.
As a communicator and educator, Jonas is in high demand at workshops and courses throughout Denmark and abroad. On Instagram, Jonas has reached millions of viewers through short-form videos sharing warm-ups, rehearsal techniques, and conducting insights – offering accessible and engaging content for choir leaders and singers around the world. He also hosts the podcast Koryfæer, where he interviews composers, conductors, and singers about their passion for choral music.
Jonas holds degrees in choral conducting from the University of Cambridge, the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, and the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus.
LATEST NEWS
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 17 January, 2026
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Online Workshop: Learn to Fail - Modern Conducting Academy
17 January, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Online
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- 23 January, 2026
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Workshop: Energy and Playfulness in the rehearsal
23 January, 2026 10:15 am - 1:15 pm
Kvaglund Kirke Kvaglundparken 18, 6705 Esbjerg Ø, Danmark
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- 7 February, 2026
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Masterclass for visiting Irish choral conductors
7 February, 2026 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Aarhus
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ACHIEVEMENTS
International Rankings
Two of Jonas’ ensembles are currently (2025) ranked among the Top 10 Choirs in the World by INTERKULTUR’s official Top 1000 list:
• Youth Choir Aarhus U – #2 worldwide after winning the 6th European Choir Games in July 2025
• Academic Choir Aarhus – #8 worldwide after winning the 5th Kalamata International Choral Competition in October 2024
INTERKULTUR is the world’s leading organizer of international choral competitions and festivals since 1988.
International Conducting Awards
- 1st Prize – 20th Gheorghe Dima International Music Competition (2024)
- 3rd Prize & Best Commissioned Work Performance – 9th International Competition for Young Conductors (2019)
- 1st Prize – International Competition for Young Nordic Choral Conductors, Svendborg (2014)
Major Choral Competition Victories
- Winner – World Choral Championship, Tokyo (2019)
- Grand Prix – The World Choral Cup (Sing for Gold, Spain, 2022)
- Winner – European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations (2023, 2025)
- Winner – Let The Peoples Sing, European Broadcasting Union (2019)
- Winner – Nordic Barbershop Championships (2023)
- Grand Prix – Rimini International Choral Competition, Italy (2018)
- Grand Prix – Kalamata International Choral Competition, Greece (2024)
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Videos from various competitions
ENSEMBLES
Youth Choir Aarhus U
Youth Choir Aarhus U is a mixed youth choir based at Aarhus Cathedral, consisting of 40 young singers aged 15–25. Under the leadership of Jonas Rasmussen, the choir has established itself as a central voice in Denmark’s vibrant choral youth scene.
Known for its curiosity and versatility, Aarhus U moves effortlessly between classical, contemporary, folk, and everything in between. At two consecutive European Choir Games – first in 2023 in Norrköping and then in 2025 in Aarhus – the choir won both the Sacred Music and Pop/Jazz categories – and was the highest-scoring choir in the entire competition. Today, Aarhus U ranks 2nd on INTERKULTUR’s list of the 1,000 best choirs in the world.
The choir has collaborated with acclaimed artists such as The King’s Singers, Voces8, the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra. It has performed live on national television, sung for Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, and given concerts in all ten of Denmark’s cathedrals.
Aarhus U has also made its mark on the recording scene. Most recently, the choir released Håbet er levende (2025) – 20 newly composed hymns by Marianne Søgaard, exploring the meeting point between tradition and innovation. In 2024 came Fem får, fire geder, a collection of new Danish folk arrangements by Cecilie Holst, and in 2023 the album Lucia på Dansk received widespread critical acclaim, including being named “Album of the Week” on Danish Radio P2.
Academic Choir Aarhus
Academic Choir Aarhus – founded in 1985 and conducted by Jonas Rasmussen since 2018 – is one of Denmark’s leading semi-professional choirs. Its singers, aged 20–40, are closely connected to the vibrant musical life of Aarhus University and the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus.
Performing around 15 concerts a year in Denmark and touring widely, the choir has appeared in Japan, Spain, Greece and Wales. In recent years, its international profile has soared, winning major competitions such as the Kalamata International Choral Competition (2024), Sing for Gold Grand Prix in Barcelona (2022), the World Choral Championship in Tokyo (2019), and the Rimini International Choral Competition Grand Prix (2018).
Dedicated to championing Denmark’s rich choral tradition, the choir regularly commissions new works from leading composers, including Bo Holten, Jesper Koch, Per Drud Nielsen, and its own members.
Ensemble Novum
Ensemble Novum is a professional twelve-voice vocal ensemble, made up of hand-picked singers from the vibrant and diverse choral scene in Jutland, Denmark. Bringing together some of the country’s most experienced and musically curious vocalists, the ensemble explores new artistic pathways for Danish choral music.
With an uncompromising commitment to artistic excellence, Ensemble Novum is dedicated to renewing and developing Denmark’s choral tradition. Its artistic manifesto is simple yet ambitious: every concert must include at least one world premiere by a Danish composer. This approach makes the ensemble an important platform for both established and emerging composers, and a living laboratory for innovative musical ideas.
The repertoire ranges from fresh interpretations of historic Danish choral works to brand new music written specifically for the ensemble. It is marked by broad stylistic variety, technical precision, and a sound aesthetic inspired by both the Nordic choral tradition and contemporary international trends.
Looking forward, Ensemble Novum will also be engaged in outreach and talent development projects, including mentoring young singers and conductors. In this way, the ensemble works to ensure that Danish choral music is not only preserved, but continually renewed and passed on to new generations.
RELEASES
2025 – Håbet er levende – hymns by Marianne Søgaard – Aarhus U & Jonas Rasmussen
2024 – Fem får, fire geder – Danish folk music arrangements by Cecilie Holst – Aarhus U & Jonas Rasmussen
2023 – Lucia på dansk – Aarhus U & Jonas Rasmussen
2023 – Barbershop på dansk – BarbAros & Jonas Rasmussen
2021 – Carl Nielsen Suite – Ole Faurschou, Akademisk Kor Århus & Jonas Rasmussen
2021 – God of Every Sense – Susan LaBarr, Akademisk Kor Århus & Jonas Rasmussen
2020 – Lotusøje – Per Drud Nielsen, Akademisk Kor Århus & Jonas Rasmussen
CREATOR
Social Media
With more than 200.000 followers across platforms, Jonas Rasmussen shares the joy, artistry, and diversity of choral music with a global audience. His goal is to inspire singers, conductors, and music lovers everywhere — whether they are discovering choral music for the first time or have sung in choirs their whole lives.
From playful warm-ups and rehearsal games to in-depth repertoire insights, conducting tips, and behind-the-scenes glimpses, he makes choral music accessible, exciting, and relevant. Every post is created with two things in mind: to celebrate the beauty of the human voice and to encourage others to join in that celebration.
COMPOSER
Jonas Rasmussen’s compositions are rooted in the Danish choral tradition while embracing a fresh, contemporary voice. He writes primarily for choir, often weaving together lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and a deep connection to text.
His works include commissions for ensembles such as Academic Choir Aarhus, Youth Choir Aarhus U, Ensemble Novum and national choir organisations. Jonas is currently working on The Seasons of the Year – a year-long project setting all eight poems from Johannes V. Jensen’s celebrated 1925 collection Årets Højtider to music.
Highlights of his output include Frydeligt med Jubelkor (Akademisk Kor Århus), Lyset Brænder (Aarhus U), 8 danske ordsprog (Ensemble Novum), and Tral (Korliv Summer School).
ARRANGER
Jonas’ arrangements ranges from fresh interpretations of Danish folk songs to vibrant adaptations of new hymnody and popular tunes.
In 2025, ten of his arrangements of hymns by Marianne Søgaard were published by the Danish publisher Mixtur.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Podcast
“Koryfæer – A Podcast About Choirs” is for everyone with an interest in choral music. Step behind the music and meet the composers, conductors, organizers, and enthusiasts who keep the Danish choral tradition alive. Through informal, agenda-free conversations, we get to know the people behind the names on the sheet music, concert posters, and workshops. A slow-paced, intimate podcast, released about once a month, celebrating the people who shape the Danish choral scene.
So far only available in Danish
Complete works by Svend S. Schultz
Since 2021, Academic Choir Aarhus has partnered with the record label Danacord to record the complete a cappella choral works of Svend S. Schultz (1913–1998) – one of Denmark’s most beloved 20th-century choral composers, known for his lyrical style and deep connection to the Danish song tradition. Three of the planned five albums have already been released to critical acclaim, earning praise both nationally and internationally – including “Album of the Week” on Danish National Radio P2.
The Seasons’ Celebrations
In 2025, Jonas Rasmussen has embarked on an ambitious year-long composition project setting all eight poems from Årets Højtider (The Seasons’ Celebrations) by Nobel Prize–winning Danish author Johannes V. Jensen (1873–1950) to music. First published in 1925, the collection is a lyrical celebration of the Danish seasons and their traditions. Each new choral work will be premiered and released throughout 2025, marking the book’s centenary, with scores, recordings, and visual material made available to choirs and audiences alike. The project aims to honour one of Denmark’s greatest literary voices.
PRESS
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Curriculum Vitae
500 word CV
Jonas Rasmussen (b. 1992) is a Danish conductor, composer, content creator and educator who has quickly established himself as one of the most distinctive choral voices of his generation. Known for his ability to combine artistic ambition with playfulness and accessibility, he is the Artistic Director of Ensemble Novum, Academic Choir Aarhus and Youth Choir Aarhus U, and teaches classical choir conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus.
Jonas’ ensembles have won some of the most prestigious international choral prizes, including the World Choral Championship in Tokyo (2019), the Grand Prix at the Rimini International Choral Competition (2018), the European Broadcasting Union’s competition Let the Peoples Sing in Barcelona (2019), and the World Choral Cup in Barcelona (2022). In 2023 and again in 2025, he brought home multiple gold medals at the European Choir Games, Europe’s biggest choral competition. These achievements underline his ability to combine technical excellence with imaginative programming, leading ensembles that inspire both audiences and singers. Both his ensembles choirs are now ranked in the top 10 on INTERKULTUR’s official top 1000 list of choirs from all around the world – with Youth Choir Aarhus U as #2 and Academic Choir Aarhus as #8.
His career has included collaborations with leading international artists and ensembles such as The King’s Singers, Ars Nova Copenhagen and Voces8. Jonas has also been recognized individually, winning the 1st Prize in the 20th Gheorghe Dima International Music Competition (2024), 3rd place in the 9th International Competition for Young Conductors’ in Paris (2019) and the 1st Prize of the International Competition for Young Nordic Choral Conductors (2014). He has been supported by major Danish cultural foundations, including Augustinus Fonden, Knud Højgaards Fond, and Louis-Hansen Fonden.
Alongside his conducting, Jonas is active as a composer and arranger. His works are rooted in the Danish choral tradition while exploring contemporary sounds and text settings. His ongoing 2025 project sets Johannes V. Jensen’s Aarets Højtider (The Season’s Celebration) to new music, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the collection. His arrangements of Danish hymns and folk-inspired works are performed widely, while his recordings with Academic Choir Aarhus showcase his interest in rediscovering and revitalizing Danish repertoire, including Svend S. Schultz’ “Efterklange” (Complete choral works for mixed choir a cappella).
Education and mentorship are central to Jonas’ work. Through his popular “Staldtips” video series (200+ videos), he has shared insights and exercises with hundreds of choir conductors across Denmark. In 2025, he started to post content online for a wider international audience and the response has been remarkable. In the first 3 months, Jonas achieved over 50.000 followers across platforms and that number is quickly growing. He is frequently invited as a workshop leader for choral organizations in Denmark and abroad where his engaging style and ability to connect with singers of all levels are widely appreciated. His teaching at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus builds on his own training at the University of Cambridge and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.
Jonas’ vision is to position choral music as a living, evolving art form – not a museum piece, but something that constantly redefines itself through collaboration, innovation, and community. Whether on the concert stage, in a classroom, or online, his work is driven by the belief that choir singing is one of the most powerful ways to create meaning and connection between people.
200 word CV
Jonas Rasmussen (b. 1992) is a Danish conductor, composer, content creator and educator, widely recognized for his ability to combine artistic ambition with playfulness and accessibility. He serves as Artistic Director of Academic Choir Aarhus and Youth Choir Aarhus U, both award-winning ensembles with whom he has achieved significant international success, including victories at the World Choral Championship in Tokyo, European Choir Games and Let the Peoples Sing.
Educated in choral conducting at the University of Cambridge, the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Jonas has quickly established himself as one of the most distinctive choral voices of his generation. He has worked with professional ensembles such as The King’s Singers and Ars Nova Copenhagen and is in high demand as a workshop leader throughout Europe.
Beyond performance, he is committed to education and mentorship. Since 2021 he has taught classical choral conducting at the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus, and since 2025, he has shared content about choral music online for a wide international audience with a following of 100.000 across platforms and millions of views.
His work combines artistic excellence with accessibility, fostering community and innovation in choral music.
50 word CV
Jonas Rasmussen is a Danish conductor, composer and content creator known for combining artistic excellence with playfulness and accessibility. He leads Ensemble Novum, Academic Choir Aarhus and Youth Choir Aarhus U, winning multiple international prizes. He teaches at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus and shares conducting insights worldwide through popular social media videos.
CONTACT
Jonas Rasmussen
Conductor | Composer | Creator
Artistic Director of Academic Choir Aarhus, Youth Choir Aarhus U and Ensemble Novum
Choral conducting teacher at The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus
Instagram: @choirconductor
Facebook: @choirconductor
YouTube: @choralconductor
WhatsApp: +45 41401500
E-Mail: contact@jonasrasmussen.dk