Nils Kugelmann, born in Munich in 1996, came to music at an early age. It started with the recorder and was quickly followed by piano, clarinet and the bass. He wrote his first composition for clarinet at the age of 11, the first piece for big band at 15 and the first works for orchestra and two musicals at 18. These premiered under his baton at venues including the Herkulesaal of the Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace, the Wagenhalle and the Gasteig in Munich. 

 

After graduating from the Pestalozzi Gymnasium in 2015, he studied jazz double bass at the "Hochschule für Musik und Theater München" with Henning Sieverts, which Kugelmann completed in 2020 (Bachelor) and 2022 (Master). During this time, Kugelmann already drew the attention as a sideman in various projects. He played concerts with the Benny Golson Quartet, Trio Elf, the Jazzrausch Bigband and Johannes Enders, among others.

 

Since 2022, Kugelmann has increasingly been on the road with his own project - the Nils Kugelmann Trio. Concert tours have taken his bands to many clubs and festivals in Germany and beyond in recent years. His debut album "Stormy Beauty" is out now and got nominated for the „Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik.“ The Süddeutsche Zeitung states: "A brilliant album by one of the most universal musicians in this country." Besides double bass, Kugelmann also plays contralto clarinet in the duo "Lightville" and piano in the duo "Wolfgruber Kugelmann“.

 

 In addition to the first prize at the "European Young Artist Jazz Award Burghausen 2023" with his trio and several prizes at the "Biberacher Jazzpreis", "Förderpreis des Bayerischen Jazzverbands" or the "Future Sounds Competition" in Leverkusen, Kugelmann has just been honored for work as a composer and musician with the "Musikstipendium der Stadt München" and the "BMW Young Artist Jazz Award".

 

In parallel to his own projects, Kugelmann is part of various permanent bands such as the "Shuteen Erdenebaatar Quartet" (Junger Münchner Jazzpreis), the Luca Zambito Quartet (Junger Münchner Jazzpreis), "RENNER" (Förderpreis des Bayerischen Jazzverbands).

 

Currently Kugelmann is writing his second album.