Magnus Plejdrup, (b. 1995) is a Danish conductor and composer based in Aarhus (DK). Recent and forthcoming engagements include conducting Randers Kammerorkester (The Danish Sinfonietta), the Aarhus and Odense Symphony Orchestras, Danmarks Underholdningsorkester (The Danish Chamber Orchestra) and Operaen i Midten (DK) and composing commissioned works for the Danish Chamber Orchestra, LAiKA Quartet, Aarhus Chamber Music Festival and the documentary film ‘Intruders’ by David Krøyer.

Magnus Plejdrup is the founder and Artistic Director of Aarhus Chamber Orchestra with which he, since 2018, has conducted more than 50 concerts all over Denmark. The concerts has featured esteemed soloists such as Bjarke Mogensen (accordeon), Jakob Kullberg (cello) and David Munk-Nielsen (piano) and through the concerts he has commissioned and premiered major works by renowned composers such as Britta Byström, Matthew Grouse, Louise Alenius and Niels Rønsholdt.

Magnus Plejdrup was a recipient of the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Foundation’s Talent Prize 2023, the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize 2022 and in 2021 he won the audience award at The Danish Sinfonietta’s 75-year anniversary composition contest with the piece ‘Randers’.

Magnus Plejdrup is part of the Danish Conductor’s Forum ‘Dirigentløftet’ since January 2024, regularly participating in masterclasses with prominent Danish orchestras such as Aarhus-, Aalborg- and Odense Symphony Orchestras along with Athelas Sinfonietta, Ars Nova Copenhagen and the Danish Military Brass Bands. The list of distinguished teachers include Johannes Schlaefli, Hartmut Haenchen, Mark Heron, Dmitry Matvienko and more.

Magnus Plejdrup studied a MMus degree in Orchestral Conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with professor Martyn Brabbins (2021-23) and a Bachelor of Classical Composition at The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus with professors Niels Rønsholdt, Simon Steen-Andersen and Juliana Hodkinson (2018-21). Through his studies, he has conducted the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the orchestra of Scottish Opera, and as a student he has composed pieces for Esbjerg Ensemble, Friction Quartet and The Symphony Orchestra of The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus.

In addition to his artistic work, Magnus Plejdrup is working actively within fields such as cultural entrepreneurship and cultural politics through commitments in the Board of Representatives in The Danish Arts Foundation and through his memberships of The Danish Composers’ and Conductors’ Societies.

(Last updated August 18th, 2025)