Honorary professors

A higher education institution may award the title honorary professor to highly professional persons outside the institution whom the institution wishes to honour with this title and with whom the institution wants to establish a closer association. The position as honorary professor is not a full-time job. Instead, honorary professors work as lecturers in connection with courses of a project nature, where they are in close contact with the academy’s students.

Joakim Milder

In June 2023, Danish National Academy of Music appointed Swedish saxophonist, arranger, and composer Joakim Milder as an adjunct professor for a five-year term. He is particularly affiliated with the rhythmic department in Esbjerg, which houses the academy’s study program "Contemporary Rhythmic Musician."

The program is characterized by a particularly broad understanding of the concept of rhythmic music, making Milder’s artistic profile and stylistic versatility a perfect match. As one of the most influential saxophonists of his generation, Joakim Milder has, throughout his career, played with a wide range of artists—from Lisa Nilsson and niche jazz projects to concerts and recordings with legends such as Red Mitchell, Paul Bley, and Tomasz Stańko.

A unanimous faculty expressed their support for the choice, stating:
"Joakim Milder’s immense versatility allows him to move freely across virtually all genres within improvisational music. He possesses vast knowledge and life experience from the music industry and works open-mindedly with both people and music, naturally incorporating an awareness of equality in his work."

Milder’s credentials also include 35 years of teaching at the conservatory level, as well as serving as the artistic director of the "Norrbotten Big Band"—one of Scandinavia’s most prominent large rhythmic ensembles—for the past 10 years. Regarding his role at the academy in Esbjerg, he stated:
"It is a great honor to receive this offer from the Danish National Academy of Music—an institution with an excellent reputation. I am truly looking forward to meeting students and colleagues, initiating processes, raising new questions, and creating meaningful music!"

At the appointment ceremony, Principle Claus Skjold Larsen expressed:
"It is a great pleasure to welcome such a distinguished artist and far-reaching talent as saxophonist Joakim Milder to the Danish National Academy of Music. His extensive experience as both a musician and educator will undoubtedly be a tremendous asset to everyone at SDMK."

Harald Haugaard

[Translate to English:] Photo of Harald Haugaard

VIOLINIST AND COMPOSER HARALD HAUGAARD HAS BEEN APPOINTED HONORARY PROFESSOR AT THE FOLK MUSIC PROGRAMME AT THE DANISH ACADEMY OF MUSIC FROM THE SCHOOL YEAR 2020/21 AND FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

Harald Haugaard is one of the most prominent and in-demand Danish folk musicians of his generation, with extensive and recognised national and international artistic activities, a large number of acclaimed releases and extensive touring behind him.

He is a graduate of the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (now the Danish National Academy of Music) and was for a number of years a key figure in the establishment and development of the Danish folk music programme. In addition, he is recognised as an excellent communicator, inspirer and talent developer and has built up a large international network and field of activities, among other things as artistic director of the Danish-German music festival folkBALTICA. All in all, something that will benefit the Academy students.

As the steward of a locally based folk music tradition, Haugaard has deep roots in the Danish fiddler tradition. At the same time, however, he contributes to a constant expansion of the field of musical possibilities, and with his innovative and energetic drive he is a prominent exponent for the exploration of new expressions across genres and artistic expressions.

About the appointment and the task which it entails, Harald Haugaard says: ‘Music is one of the world’s most important forms of expression and one of its strongest languages. Music connects people and bridges gaps and divides between us. We need music, and that is precisely why Academy students have a big and beautiful task of communicating it to all of us. It is my hope that I, as an honorary professor, can further contribute to motivating them to do so’.

 

 

Henry Fairs

In 2023, British organist Henry Fairs was appointed as an adjunct professor in the church music program at the Danish National Academy of Music.

With this appointment comes the task of inspiring and motivating students while ensuring the continued development of the academy’s church music program in Esbjerg.

Regarding his appointment and the challenges ahead, Henry Fairs stated:
“I am absolutely delighted to take up this position and to be associated, both professionally and personally, with the flourishing organ and church music department of the Syddansk Musikkonservatorium. I hugely look forward to future collaborations, involvement in great music making, and many exciting projects in my capacity as Honorary Professor of Organ.”

Since 2020, Henry Fairs has been a professor of organ at the Universität der Künste, Berlin. Previously, he taught and led the organ department at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for many years. Additionally, he has held several guest professorships and served on juries for international organ competitions. As an organ soloist, he has won multiple international awards and explored a vast repertoire through extensive recordings and concert performances.

There is also great enthusiasm within SDMK’s organ faculty regarding his appointment. Mikkel Andreassen, who leads the conservatory’s organ department, stated:
“Henry Fairs possesses remarkable expressive, tonal, and technical mastery. He is an approachable, inclusive, and open-minded personality, making him a fantastic educator. We are very much looking forward to an inspiring and rewarding collaboration with this internationally renowned musician, who will be an important part of the ongoing development of the organ community at the Danish National Academy of Music in Esbjerg.”

Principle Claus Skjold Larsen also commented on the appointment:
“With his strong artistic and pedagogical profile, Henry Fairs is an excellent match for the church music program in Esbjerg, where he will be able to teach and inspire students at many different levels.”

David Braid

[Translate to English:] Photo of David Braid

David Braid is a highly acclaimed Canadian jazz composer and pianist who has distinguished himself on the international jazz scene for several decades. He has been nominated for a Juno, Canada’s largest music award, eight times and won three times. Most recently with the band The North, where he plays together with Anders Mogensen and Johnny Åman.

 

Ole Edvard Antonsen

[Translate to English:] Photo of Ole Edvard Antonsen

Ole Edvard Antonsen is considered as one of the world’s most prominent trumpet soloists. He has performed at prestigious venues in more than 40 countries, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Musikverein in Vienna, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Sydney Opera House, Barbican in London and Philharmonie in Berlin. He has performed with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring prominent conductors, including Mariss Jansons, Kent Nagano, Philippe Herreweghe and Dmitri Kitayenko.

Antonsen is a remarkably versatile musician and has successfully collaborated with musicians within pop and rock, including John Miles, Mark King from Level 42, Lisa Stansfield and Ute Lemper as well as jazz ensembles such as the Metropole Orchestra, Willem Breuker Kollektif and his own groups. As a conductor, Antonsen has performed with orchestras and ensembles such as the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Saõ Paulo Symphony Orchestra and the Gothenburg Symphony Brass Ensemble. From 2006 to 2010, he was the principal conductor and artistic director of the Royal Norwegian Air Force Band, a position he currently holds with the Norwegian Wind Orchestra.

An extensive and far-reaching discography has brought him awards and recognition and in 2007, Ole Edvard Antonsen was appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He has had first performances of more than 60 great works written especially for him. In recent years, he himself has composed a number of works under the title ‘Musical Landscapes’ and performed them at around 350 concerts around the world.