The UK's most popular contemporary composer, Karl Jenkins was born in 1944 and was raised in Penclawdd, South West Wales.
His father was a school teacher, organist and choir master, who taught Karl music theory and the piano.
While at Gowerton Grammar School, Karl played oboe in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, before reading music at the University of Wales, Cardiff. He went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Jenkins initially focused on playing jazz, with performances at Ronnie Scott's legendary club. He co-formed the group Nucleus, which won first prize at the 1970 Montreux Jazz Festival.
Read the full Karl Jenkins biography.
Key works
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Requiem
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The Armed Man
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This Land Of Ours
Read the BBC Wales Music review
