Biography
As a pianist deeply committed to modern compositions, Karl Larson champions new music through frequent premieres and by presenting daring programs across both longstanding concert halls and experimental spaces. He helped establish the trio Bearthoven, which centers on contemporary works.
Born in Wisconsin, Larson completed his undergraduate studies at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in 2009. He then pursued graduate training at Bowling Green State University, earning master’s and doctoral degrees under Laura Melton while immersing himself in the institution’s active new-music scene and performing regularly with its ensembles. In 2010 he co-founded the Color Field Ensemble. After finishing his doctorate, he relocated to New York and made his home in Brooklyn. There, in 2013, he launched Bearthoven with bassist Pat Swoboda and percussionist Matt Evans; the ensemble has since commissioned more than fifteen pieces. As a soloist, Larson has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Teatro General San Martín in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has given first performances of works by David Rakowski, Christopher Cerrone, and Ravi Kittappa, among others. Together with Kittappa he curates the monthly Permutations series of new music and art events in New York. He also interprets established twentieth-century scores by composers such as Pierre Boulez, Olivier Messiaen, and Morton Feldman, and he has worked closely with figures including Eve Beglarian as well as the Bang on a Can All-Stars and Eighth Blackbird.
Larson’s first recording appeared in 2014 on the album Re: you, devoted to music by Robert Honstein. In 2016 he joined cellist Ashley Bathgate for Ken Thomson: Restless. Returning to Honstein’s catalog, he released An Economy of Means on the New Focus label in 2018. In 2021 he issued Scott Wollschleger: Dark Days, serving additionally as producer, editor, and mastering engineer.
Born in Wisconsin, Larson completed his undergraduate studies at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in 2009. He then pursued graduate training at Bowling Green State University, earning master’s and doctoral degrees under Laura Melton while immersing himself in the institution’s active new-music scene and performing regularly with its ensembles. In 2010 he co-founded the Color Field Ensemble. After finishing his doctorate, he relocated to New York and made his home in Brooklyn. There, in 2013, he launched Bearthoven with bassist Pat Swoboda and percussionist Matt Evans; the ensemble has since commissioned more than fifteen pieces. As a soloist, Larson has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Teatro General San Martín in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has given first performances of works by David Rakowski, Christopher Cerrone, and Ravi Kittappa, among others. Together with Kittappa he curates the monthly Permutations series of new music and art events in New York. He also interprets established twentieth-century scores by composers such as Pierre Boulez, Olivier Messiaen, and Morton Feldman, and he has worked closely with figures including Eve Beglarian as well as the Bang on a Can All-Stars and Eighth Blackbird.
Larson’s first recording appeared in 2014 on the album Re: you, devoted to music by Robert Honstein. In 2016 he joined cellist Ashley Bathgate for Ken Thomson: Restless. Returning to Honstein’s catalog, he released An Economy of Means on the New Focus label in 2018. In 2021 he issued Scott Wollschleger: Dark Days, serving additionally as producer, editor, and mastering engineer.
Albums
