The trumpet world is mourning the loss of one of its brightest stars. Niklas Eklund, the acclaimed Swedish trumpeter and master of the Baroque repertoire, has died at the age of 56. His death was confirmed April 15; the cause is unknown.
Eklund, born in 1969 in Gothenburg, was immersed in music from the beginning. His father, Bengt Eklund, was a noted trumpeter and conductor who served as his first teacher. Niklas would go on to study at the University of Gothenburg’s School of Music and Musicology before continuing his training at the prestigious Schola Cantorum Basiliensis under the guidance of Baroque trumpet pioneer Edward H. Tarr.
After five years as principal trumpet with the Basel Radio Symphony Orchestra, Eklund stepped away in 1996 to pursue a solo career—one that would quickly earn him global recognition. That same year, he won first prize at the inaugural Altenburg International Baroque Trumpet Competition in Bad Säckingen, Germany.
What followed was a remarkable career defined by dazzling virtuosity and a deep commitment to historically informed performance. Eklund became a go-to collaborator for some of the world’s most respected conductors and soloists, including Cecilia Bartoli, Zubin Mehta, John Eliot Gardiner, Heinz Holliger, András Schiff, and Gustav Leonhardt.
He also played a key role in Gardiner’s landmark “Bach Pilgrimage” project in 2000, a year-long journey of performances and recordings of Bach’s cantatas that remains a touchstone in the early music world.
A prolific recording artist, Eklund’s The Art of the Baroque Trumpet series on Naxos—spanning five volumes—set a new standard for the genre. The American Record Guide praised his “virtuoso skills, consistently sweet tone, purity of intonation, and sense of ease,” calling him “the world’s best.” Christopher Martin, Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic, once said the series featured “the most lyrically gorgeous trumpet playing you’ll ever hear.”
Eklund made history as the first baroque trumpet recording artist to sell more than a million CDs. He was nominated for a Grammy and frequently performed as a soloist across Europe, North America, Australia, and beyond, while also sharing his expertise through teaching and masterclasses.
More recently, he held the position of principal trumpet with the Gothenburg Opera Orchestra, returning to his roots in his hometown.
To trumpet players, Eklund was more than a performer—he was a trailblazer, a mentor, and an artist whose influence will continue to resonate for generations. His legacy lives on through his recordings, his students, and the indelible mark he left on the baroque trumpet repertoire.
He is survived by his family, friends, colleagues, and a global community of musicians who will carry forward the music he championed with such passion.