Conductor Lavard Skou Larsen’s passionate music-making inspires audiences of all ages. Serving as Music Director of both, the Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss by Duesseldorf from 2004 until 2017, and the Georgische Kammerorchester in Ingoldstadt / Germany from 2012 until 2014, the impact of his musical leadership was felt after his first concerts and continues with his imaginative programs and record audience attendance. His commitment to these posts accounts for the major portion of his agenda, while increasingly in demand as guest conductor in Brazil, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, France and in the USA. He has conducted symphony and chamber orchestras with equal success, such as the Mozarteum Salzburg, the Dresden Philharmonie, Dusseldorf Symphony, Rheinische Philharmonie, Orchestre National de Lorraine, Orchestre des Pays de Savoie, Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, Berne Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfonica Brasileira de Rio de Janeiro, Orquestra Sinfonica de Porte Alegre, Orquestra National do Porto, Orquestra Ciudad de Almeria, Mikkeli City Orchestra, Erasmus Chamber Orchestra, European Union Chamber Orchestra, Armenia Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Texas Music Festival for young professionals.
The most recent seasons included re-invitations with the Berne Symphony, Switzerland, Erasmus Chamber Orchestra, Holland, Orchestra de Chambre de Genève, the Texas Music Festival and the regular opening concerts with the Salzburg Chamber Soloists at the International Summer Academy, Mozarteum in collaboration with the Salzburg Festival. Upcoming performances will be with the Basel Sinfonietta, Switzerland, Orquestra Sinfonica de Porto Alegre, Brazil, Vogtland Philharmonie Reichenau, Germany and the Leopoldinum Chamber Orchestra, Poland.
Lavard Skou Larsen, Music Director of three orchestras, has expanded with his leadership its diversified programs and outreach projects, most notably with the Salzburg Chamber Orchestra’s over fifty successful concerts in the USA. Appearing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the Metropolitan Museum, New York, Cerritos Center in Los Angeles, Wenz Concert Hall by Chicago, and in major concert halls in St. Louis, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Charlotte, Houston, and Palm Beach, the ensemble was enthusiastically received by the audience and critics alike. Lavard Skou Larsen and the Salzburg Chamber Soloists inspired with their outreach projects for children and young audiences throughout the United States.
As Professor in violin at the prominent Salzburg Mozarteum, Lavard Skou Larsen cultivates the next generation of superb musicians in his studio since 2002. His students came to be soloists and members of top orchestras.
His conducting skills developed naturally through the early mentoring by his father Gunnar, and were molded by his inspiration of his role model, maestro Sergio Celibidache, which at age fifteen resulted in the first prize of Austria’s Young Musicians Competition. Already at age 23, he was offered to take charge of the European Union Chamber Orchestra as artistic director and leader.