While Thomas Søndergård is well known for his incisive interpretations of orchestral works by composers from his native Denmark, he has demonstrated versatility in a broad range of repertory, including music by Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorák, Mahler, Sibelius, Ravel, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and many others. Søndergård's Danish repertory takes in much contemporary music, specifically works by Poul Ruders, Per Nørgård, and Bent Lorentzen. Among active conductors Søndergård is one of relatively few who are proficient in percussion performance. (Simon Rattle is perhaps the most notable example.) Søndergård has conducted many of the leading orchestras in Europe and has toured across the U.K., Europe, and the U.S. He has recorded for Dacapo Records, EMI, and Bridge. Thomas Søndergård was born in Holstebro, Denmark, in 1969. From 1989-1992, he studied percussion under Gert Mortensen at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. During his student years Søndergård served as percussionist in the London-based European Union Youth Orchestra, a training ensemble that regularly tours throughout Europe. From 1992, Søndergård served as timpanist with the Royal Danish Orchestra. He was also studying conducting now, and among his teachers were Yves Abel, Alexander Polianichko, and Graham Bond. While still a percussionist in the RDO he began freelancing as a conductor from age 27, and over the next decade or so would occasionally lead that orchestra and such ensembles as the Ålborg Symphony Orchestra, Århus Symphony Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra, South Jutland Symphony Orchestra, and several others. In the new century Søndergård had a brief stint on the faculty of the Royal Danish Academy of Music (2001-2002), and in 2004 he was awarded the Ejnar Hansen Grant. The following year Søndergård had his biggest breakthrough up to that time when he debuted at the Royal Danish Opera in the premiere of Poul Ruders' Kafka's Trial. Søndergård was a sensation and a recording derived from live performances of the opera was issued to high praise on the Dacapo label in 2006. Søndergård continued to impress both critics and public alike and soon was named principal conductor and musical adviser of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, effective in the 2009-2010 season. He captured a second important conducting post in July 2011 when he was named principal conductor of BBC National Orchestra of Wales, effective with the 2012-2013 season. Among Søndergård's more acclaimed recordings is the 2010 EMI CD of violin concertos by Sibelius and Prokofiev, with violinist Vilde Frang.