Jens Søndergaard

Baritone

Jens Søndergaard was born in Herning, Denmark. As a boy, he sang with the Herning Boys' Choir. While studying at the Royal Danish Opera Academy, he briefly pursued a semi-professional football career with Fremad Amager in Copenhagen before deciding to devote himself fully to a career as an opera singer.

He graduated from the Royal Danish Opera Academy in 2003 and completed the Soloist Programme at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in 2005. In 2013, he earned a Master's degree in Elite Vocal Pedagogy.

From 2004 to 2007, Jens Søndergaard was a member of the soloist ensemble at Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar. He subsequently worked as a freelance singer, appearing as a guest artist in productions both in Denmark and internationally. Between 2017 and 2019, he was a member of the soloist ensemble at the Royal Danish Theatre, followed by another season as a freelance artist before rejoining the company as a permanent member of the soloist ensemble in August 2020. His roles at the Royal Danish Theatre include Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde, the title role in Eugene Onegin, Amonasro in Aida, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Balstrode in Peter Grimes, Escamillo in Carmen, Scarpia in Tosca, Marcello in La bohème, and the title role in Don Giovanni.

Alongside his operatic career, Jens Søndergaard has established himself as a distinguished concert and recital singer. He regularly performs with Denmark's leading orchestras in major works including Ein deutsches Requiem, Messiah, and Matthäus-Passion and Johannes-Passion. He is also a frequent guest at Danish classical music festivals, performing works such as Winterreise, Schwanengesang, Songs of Travel, and Chansons gaillardes.

Jens Søndergaard has appeared in numerous radio and television productions, including Zemlinsky's Lyrische Symphonie, Nielsen's Fynsk Forår, and La bohème. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Holger Bruusgaard Grant, the Aksel Schiøtz Prize, and the Aalborg Opera Prize.

Since 2012, Jens Søndergaard has also been active as a voice teacher, first at MGK Frederiksberg and later at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and the Royal Danish Opera Academy.