Om Christian

Christian Hougaard, born in 1964, is a classically trained saxophone player with roots in the rhythmical Scene and an International career as chamber musician. A music director and composer, solo performer in radio and TV, and master of numerous instruments: his career spans a wide range within the world of music.

Christian started playing drums and the clarinet at the age of 6 in The Tivoli Garden Boys Band in Copenhagen, and he later graduated as a Jazz pianist at The Royal Danish Academy of Music. After achieving his Diploma in saxophone at The Royal Danish Academy of Music, he was accepted in the Soloist and Chamber music program at the Conservatoire de National de Musique de Cergy Pontoise in Paris, where he proceeded to win Gold Medal.

He writes and plays theatre music, and was co-leader and initiative taker in making New Style Theater Concerts (“Gasolin”, and latest production “Come Together Theater Concert” arranged by Hellemann/Cederholm).

Christian is sponsored by Selmer Saxophones Paris and Vandoren Paris, and has among others won grants from the Augustinus Foundation, Danish Music Society, Solistforeningen af 1921, Beckett Foundation, The Danish Art Council. He has had numerous contemporary pieces specifically written for him.

For more than 25 years he has played in the Danish Saxophone Quartet, which has been honored with over 120 pieces of contemporary music specifically written for the ensemble.

Other ensembles which he has lead or been a member of:

• Vandspejlet
• Hougaard/ Lewkovitch Duo
• Quatour Reunion de saxophones (Est. I Paris in 1992)
• Hougaard Duo
• Boi Holm and Christian Hougaard Duo
• Dr. Dante
• Fed Fisk
• Ensemble Münchhausen

Christian’s career has led him to perform all over the world: China, Japan, USA, Argentina, Sweden, Norway, UK, Ireland, Iceland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, China, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Austria, and Switzerland.

He has been playing with the following:

• The Danish Radio Broadcast Symphony Orchestra
• The Royal Danish Opera
• Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra
• Aalborg Symphony Orchestra
• Randers Chamber Orchestra
• The Danish National Chamber Orchestra
• Vestjysk Symphony Orchestra
• Athelas Ensemble
• Esbjerg Ensemble
• Malmo Symphony Orchestra
• Malmo Opera Orchestra

Selection of recordings:

• “Contemporary Music for Saxophones” vol. 1 og 2, New Danish Saxopone Saxophone Quartet
• “Die Kunst der Fuge” (The Art of The Fugue), New Danish Saxopone Saxophone Quartet
• “Goldberg Variations”, Danish Saxophone Quartet
• “Tangos”, New Danish Saxophone Quartet
• “Racconti” music by Jørgen Bentzon, Randers Chamber Orchestra
• “Peace” improvised music, Vandspejlet