Erik Moseholm
Illustration — The grave of Erik Moseholm in Copenhagen. Erik Moseholm (13 May 1930 – 12 October 2012) was a Danish jazz bassist, composer, bandleader and music administrator. He was the leader of the DR Big Band from 1961 to 1966 and the principal of the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen from 1992 to 1997.
Erik Moseholm

Leif Jørgensen · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1930 · Fredericia.
- Died
- 2012 · Copenhagen.
- Nationality
- Kingdom of Denmark
- Occupation
- composer · music educator · university teacher · musician
- Fields
- jazz
- Languages
- Danish
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Documentary summary
Illustration — The grave of Erik Moseholm in Copenhagen. Erik Moseholm (13 May 1930 – 12 October 2012) was a Danish jazz bassist, composer, bandleader and music administrator. He was the leader of the DR Big Band from 1961 to 1966 and the principal of the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen from 1992 to 1997.
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Authority files
gnd · 1365596761 · museum · c5ac4960-21b6-44b8-aa45-367f1e2cd6c3 · wikidata · Q507993 · wikipedia · Erik Moseholm
In this article
Career as a musician
Career as a musician
Erik Moseholm was born in Fredericia and already as a teenager he performed with his own band in his home town.. In 1948 he moved to Copenhagen where he soon became one of the most significant modern jazz musicians of his day. He was also active in Classical music. His work is documented on some 50 albums and he has recorded with international stars such as Don Byas and Eric Dolphy. He also played in the chamber ensemble Societas Musica and as a soloist with the Copenhagen Symphony Orchestra. Over the years he led a number of ensembles of varying sizes, including the RadioJazzgruppen from 1961 to 1966 and RD Big Band far 1966 to 1992. As a music composer he composed music for all sizes of orchestras and also created theatre and film music. From 1998, as a bassist and composer, he has collaborated with his wife, the storyteller and actress Vigga Bro.
Career as a music administrator
Career as a music administrator
After his time as band leader of the DR Big Band, Moseholm went on to work for the DR, including as the administrative leader of the big band. From 1992 to 1997 he was principal of the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. From his various platforms, Moseholm has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives in the Danish rhythmical music environment. These include: orchestra tours to schools, various workshops and the foundation of organisations such as DJBFA, DJF, and FaJaBeFa. He was also involved in the establishment of Nordisk Workshop and Mordjazz.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Fredericia.
Birth place
Copenhagen.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Erik Moseholm”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q507993: Erik Moseholm
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
Institutional database
- MusicBrainz artist record for Erik Moseholm
Scholarly · MetaBrainz Foundation
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1365596761, Erik Moseholm Group.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Awards and accolades
• 1958: Danish Jazz Musician of the Year • 1960: European Jazz Bassist of the Year • 1998: Order of the Dannebrog
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
MusicBrainz artist record for Erik MoseholmMetaBrainz Foundation
Institutional witnessauthority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1365596761, Erik Moseholm Group.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
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