Magnus Plejdrup (b. 1995) is a Danish conductor and composer based in Copenhagen. In 2026, he was selected to participate in the Contemporary Conducting Programme at Lucerne Festival. Recent conducting engagements include the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra, the Danish Chamber Orchestra, the Danish Sinfonietta, Funen Opera and Operaen i Midten. As a composer, his music has been commissioned by the Danish Chamber Orchestra, Danish Flute Festival, LAiKA Quartet, Aarhus Chamber Music Festival and for the documentary film Intruders by David Krøyer.

Since founding Aarhus Chamber Orchestra in 2018, Plejdrup has served as its Artistic Director and conducted more than 65 concerts across Denmark. The orchestra has collaborated with soloists including Bjarke Mogensen (accordion), Jonathan Swensen (cello), Jakob Kullberg (cello), Oliver Nordahl (oboe) and David Munk-Nielsen (piano), while commissioning and premiering works by Britta Byström, Louise Alenius, Matthew Grouse and Niels Rønsholdt.

He has received the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Foundation Talent Prize (2023), the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize (2022) and the Arne Hammelboe Travel Grant from the Danish Conductors’ Society (2025). In 2021, he received the Audience Award at the Danish Sinfonietta’s 75th Anniversary Composition Competition for his orchestral work Randers.

From 2024 to 2025, he took part in the Danish Conductors’ Forum, Dirigentløftet, studying with conductors including Johannes Schlaefli, Hartmut Haenchen, Mark Heron and Dmitry Matvienko.

He holds an MMus in Orchestral Conducting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he studied with Professor Martyn Brabbins, and a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Composition from the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus. During his studies, he conducted the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the orchestra of Scottish Opera.

Alongside his artistic work, Plejdrup is actively involved in Danish musical life through appointments to the Board of Representatives of the Danish Arts Foundation, the Music Committee of Art Music Denmark and the Admissions Committee of the Danish Composers’ Society. He is also a member of the Danish Conductors’ Society and the Danish Composers’ Society.

Last updated: 20 July 2026