Mikael Rudolfsson

Mikael Rudolfsson is Professor of Trombone at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna (MUK) and a member of Klangforum Wien since 2017. He is recognized as one of the most creative soloists on the European new music scene with an international performing career spanning three continents.

Rudolfsson completed his artistic training with Prof. Jonas Bylund at the Hanover University of Music and Theatre, graduating with a Dipl.-Mus. degree. His career bridges traditional trombone repertoire with cutting-edge contemporary works, performing both classical pieces by Leopold Mozart and Georg Christoph Wagenseil alongside numerous world premieres of contemporary compositions.

Research and Performance Interests

Rudolfsson specializes in contemporary music performance with particular focus on:

• Contemporary solo trombone repertoire requiring extended techniques
• Chamber music collaborations with living composers
• Interdisciplinary projects combining music with theater, dance, and visual arts
• Electroacoustic compositions incorporating live electronics
• Historical performance practice from medieval to classical periods

His work consistently pushes the boundaries of traditional trombone performance while maintaining technical excellence across diverse musical styles.

Performance Trends

Rudolfsson's recent activities reveal a strong emphasis on European contemporary composers, particularly from the spectral and post-spectral schools. His collaborations with composers like Beat Furrer, Georg Friedrich Haas, and Klaus Lang demonstrate his commitment to advancing the trombone repertoire. He frequently performs works incorporating multimedia elements, electronics, and interdisciplinary approaches, often premiering pieces composed specifically for him by artists such as Bernhard Gander, Konstantia Gourzi, and Judit Varga.

Awards and Recognitions

• Felix Mendelssohn Competition winner (2011)
• International Jan Koetsier Competition winner (2012)
• SIGNALpriset winner (2014)
• Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik for Ensemble Schwerpunkt's CD

Teaching and Mentorship

As Professor at MUK, Rudolfsson mentors trombone students while maintaining an active international masterclass schedule. He has taught at institutions including the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover (his alma mater), Hochschule für Künste Bremen, and the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus. In 2025, he will serve as trombone tutor for the Lucerne Festival Academy, one of the world's leading programs for young musicians.

Ensemble Leadership

Rudolfsson founded Ensemble Schwerpunkt (formerly Ensemble Fokus), a brass quintet that has achieved international recognition through competition victories and critically acclaimed recordings, including their award-winning album of Iannis Xenakis' works for brass.