John Kruse

Position
Associate Professor
Studies
Woodwinds: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone
Area
Clarinet
Department
Education

John Kruse began his studies at the Carl Nielsen Academy of Music in 1980 under solo clarinettist Jens Schou, and continued in 1984 at the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Musique à Paris under Professor Guy Deplus.

John has continually sought further inspiration from international figures such as Prof. Michel Arrignon in Paris and Hans Deinzer, former professor in Hanover.

Teaching

John has been employed as a part-time teacher at RDAM since 2008, and took up the position of Associate Professor in April 2021.

He has given masterclasses at academies of music in Brussels, Paris, Boston, Salerno, etc.

Artistic practice

In 1987 John joined the Royal Danish Orchestra, where he remained until 1989, when he was appointed principal clarinettist of the Odense Symphony Orchestra. From the summer of 2005 he returned to the Royal Danish Orchestra as principal clarinettist.

Alongside his orchestral career, John has been an active chamber musician in Den Fynske Blæserkvintet, Trio Chalumeau, Stadler Kvintet, Trio Westwood, Nordisk Kammermusikfestival and Equinox Festival.

John has been a soloist with the Royal Danish Orchestra, the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Odense Symphony Orchestra, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. 

New music and collaboration with the composers is very important to him, and he has given premiere performances of works by Ole Schmidt, Jesper Koch, Anders Koppel, Niels Viggo Bentzon and Bo Holten.

John has recorded several CDs both as a chamber musician and soloist, including new Danish music for clarinet, Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time”, all of Mozart’s music for basset horn, and most recently Mozart’s and Nielsen’s concertos for clarinet and orchestra.

Awards and scholarships

John Kruse has been awarded the Jacob Gade Scholarship and the Holger Bruusgaard Scholarship.

John has given masterclasses at academies of music in Brussels, Paris, Boston, Salerno, and elsewhere.

John was a member of the jury at the first four Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competitions.

CD releases

Jesper Koch
Dreamscapes
Michaela Fukacova, John Kruse, Eugen Tichindeleanu, the Odense Symphony Orchestra, Justin Brown
Dacapo 6.220579

Anders Nordentoft
Light Imprisoned
Henrik Brendstrup, Århus Sinfonietta, Copenhagen Classic, John Kruse, Søren Kinch Hansen, Johannes Søe Hansen, Claus Myrup, Christina Bjørkøe
Dacapo 8.226577

Finn Savery
Chamber Music
Anne Mette Stæhr, Svend Winsløv, Finn Savery, John Kruse, the Synergie Guitar Quartet
Dacapo 8.226528

Poul Ruders
Music of Poul Ruders Vol. 5
John Kruse, Odense Symphony Orchestra, etc.
Bridge 9237

Franz Syberg
Wind Quintet, Concertino for Oboe and Five Strings, Music for Oboe and String Orchestra, Quartet for Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello
Odense Symphony Orchestra Soloists
KON 32135

Carl Nielsen
The Danish Symphonist
Various artists
Membran 233378

Carl Nielsen
Young Nielsen - Kammermusik
The Carl Nielsen Quartet, Odense Symphony Orchestra Soloists
KON 32231

Carl Nielsen
Instrumental Concertos
András Adorján, Jennifer Koh, John Kruse, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä
KON 32254

Messiaen, Bartok
Quatuor Pour La Fin Du Temps, A.M.O.
John Kruse, Svend Winsløv, Bjarne Hansen, Rosalind Bevan
Scandinavian Classics 220580-205

George Crumb
Complete Crumb Edition Vol. 11
Odense Symphony Orchestra, etc.
Bridge Records 9253

W.A. Mozart
Complete Chamber Works for Basset-horns (vol. 1 & 2)
Trio Chalumeau
KON 32225 & 32275