Niels Gade

Niels Wilhelm Gade, born 22 February 1817 in Copenhagen, was a Danish composer, conductor, violinist, organist, and teacher. Gade was initially appointed as chief conductor in Leipzig but returned to Copenhagen when war broke out between Prussia and Denmark in 1848. As the chief figure of the Copenhagen Musical Society, he significantly contributed to Danish musical life. Gade also worked as an organist and was joint director of the Copenhagen Conservatory. He was an influential figure for Scandinavian composers, encouraging talents like Edvard Grieg and Carl Nielsen.