Kenneth Karlsson
was born in Åmål, Sweden. He is an active and highly sought after chamber musician and soloist. He is the pianist and artistic leader of Cikada and a member of improvisation group Point 4, together with Jon Balke, Ingar Zach and Bjørn Rabben. During the 1980s he was a member of the Swedish group Aquarius, the Oslo Sinfonietta and Ensemble K4. Together with singer Elisabeth Holmertz, Karlsson has recently formed a duo, performing music from today's avant-garde, to the Baroque period. He also plays Indian Harmonium in this duo.

Karlsson has toured in Europe, Asia and America he has commissioned and premiered numerous works, by significant international composers and has recorded a large number of CDs. In 2001 Karlsson was awarded the Spellemannspris, Norway's equivalent of Grammy for his solo-CD ''sofferte onde serene'' with music by Nono, Berio and Scelsi.

He has worked with video, dance and multimedia projects and collaborated with internationally recognised composers and musicians including James Dillon, Bent Sørensen, Richard Barrett, Tan Dun, Jon Balke, Conny Bauer, Rolf Wallin, Hilde Torgersen Sidsel Endresen, Laurence Crane. Kenneth Karlssons ensemble Cikada was awarded The Nordic Council Music Prize in 2005. A new solo CD with music by Wallin, Schaathun and Schönberg will soon be released on the label 2L.