Originally from South Carolina, American harpsichordist Gabriel Smallwood has established himself as a distinctive voice among a new generation of historical keyboard players. A prizewinner at several prestigious international harpsichord competitions—including the MA Competition in Bruges (BE), the “Wanda Landowska in Memoriam” International Harpsichord Competition in Poznań (PL) and the International Harpsichord Competition in Milan (IT)—he has captivated listeners with his “remarkable expressiveness“ (Total Baroque) and a “captivating interpretation that is […] musically vivid and distinctly personal“ (RONDO Magazine).
Both as a soloist and chamber musician, Gabriel has appeared at major festivals including the MA Festival (BE), Stockholm Early Music (SE), Roma Festival Barocco (IT), Wratislavia Cantans (PL), as well as esteemed venues such as AMUZ (BE) and the National Centre for Early Music (UK). As maestro al cembalo, he has conducted large-scale vocal works spanning the entire Baroque period, including recent performances of Emilio de’ Cavalieri’s Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo in Switzerland, Austria, and Lithuania in summer 2026.
Der US-amerikanische Cembalist Gabriel Smallwood etabliert sich rasch als führende Figur der Alte-Musik-Szene. Als Preisträger mehrerer des MA Wettbewerbs in Brügge (Belgien), des Wettbewerbs „Wanda Landowska in Memoriam“ in Poznań (Polen) sowie des Internationalen Cembalowettbewerbs in Mailand (Italien), beeindruckt er sein Publikum mit einer „remarkable expressiveness“ (Total Baroque) sowie mit „fantastischen Interpretationen, die […] musikalisch lebendig und zugleich persönlich gefärbt.
Sowohl als Solist als auch als Kammermusiker ist Gabriel bei bedeutenden Festivals wie dem MA Festival (BE), Stockholm Early Music (SE), Roma Festival Barocco (IT) und Wratislavia Cantans (PL) sowie an renommierten Spielstätten wie AMUZ (BE) und dem National Centre for Early Music (UK) aufgetreten. Als maestro al cembalo hat er groß besetzte Vokalwerke vom frühen bis zum späten Barock dirigiert, darunter im Sommer 2026 Aufführungen von Emilio de’ Cavalieris Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo in der Schweiz, Österreich und Litauen.
Gabriel’s debut solo album, Juvenilia: Music by and surrounding the young Bach (Outhere Music, 2026), received critical acclaim in Europe and the United States and was nominated for the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik. Further recordings include collaborations with the NDR Radiophilharmonie and Diana Damrau for Warner Classics and with Le Sommeil for Pentatone. As a specialist in medieval keyboard music, he has appeared with Pedro Memelsdorff and Mala Punica, the Newberry Consort, Trobár and La Figuièra.
In addition to his performing career, Gabriel is an accomplished composer, having won prizes in numerous national competitions in the United States. In 2012, he made his debut as a composer at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
After completing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Leipzig and Hamburg, Gabriel continued his studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland. In Basel, he graduated with distinction and received an award from the Walter and Corina Christen-Marchal Foundation for an Outstanding Master’s Recital and Thesis. His teachers have included Francesco Corti, Andrea Marcon, Corina Marti and Menno van Delft. He received further artistic impulses through masterclasses with Christophe Rousset, Skip Sempé, Pierre Hantaï and Carole Cerasi.
In October 2026 Gabriel will join the faculty of the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna as Senior Artist for Harpsichord and Vocal and Instrumental Coaching. He also serves as teaching assistant to Francesco Corti at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.
Neben seiner Tätigkeit als Interpret ist Gabriel auch als Komponist erfolgreich und wurde bei zahlreichen nationalen Wettbewerben in den USA mit Preisen ausgezeichnet. 2012 gab er sein Debüt als Komponist in der Carnegie Hall in New York.
Nach dem Abschluss eines Bachelor- und Masterstudiums in Leipzig und Hamburg setzte Gabriel seine Ausbildung an der Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel fort. Dort schloss er sein Studium mit Auszeichnung ab und wurde von der Walter und Corina Christen-Marchal Foundation für ein herausragendes Masterkonzert und eine herausragende Masterarbeit ausgezeichnet. Zu seinen Lehrern zählen Francesco Corti, Andrea Marcon, Jörg-Andreas Bötticher, Corina Marti, Menno van Delft und Tobias Schade. Weitere künstlerische Impulse erhielt er in Meisterkursen bei Christophe Rousset, Skip Sempé, Pierre Hantaï und Carole Cerasi.
Im Oktober 2026 wird Gabriel als Senior Artist für Cembalo und Solokorrepetition an die Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (mdw) berufen. Daneben ist er als Lehrassistent von Francesco Corti an der Schola Cantorum Basiliensis tätig.
Solo Recital
St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Greenville, SC (USA)
Works by Bach, Buxtehude, Böhm, and Reincken
South Carolina Bach Competition
Greenville, SC (USA)
Jury member in South Carolina's first Bach Competition
Broken Colours
Basel, Switzerland
pseudonym
Chamber music from early 17th-century Italy
Solo Recital
Chiesa di San Maurizio, Milan (IT)
Works by Bach, Buxtehude, Reincken, Böhm
Broken Colors
Brühler Schlosskirche, Brühl (DE)
pseudonym
Chamber music from early 17th-century Italy
Organ Recital
Stadtkirche St. Martin, Rheinfelden (CH)
Works by Italian and Flemish composers from the Renaissance and early Baroque
TRINITY – Musik aus alten Hansestädten
St. Marien, Stendal (DE)
European Hanseatic Ensemble
Direction: Manfred Cortes
TRINITY – Musik aus alten Hansestädten
Heilig-Geist-Kirche, Wismar (DE)
European Hanseatic Ensemble
Direction: Manfred Cortes
TRINITY – Musik aus alten Hansestädten
Kirche am Lietzensee, Berlin (DE)
European Hanseatic Ensemble
Direction: Manfred Cortes
TRINITY – Musik aus alten Hansestädten
St.-Marien-Kirche, Frankfurt an der Oder (DE)
European Hanseatic Ensemble
Direction: Manfred Cortes
Solo Recital
Milan (IT)
part of Festival Milano Arte Musica 2025
J.S. Bach - Clavierübung II
Solo Recital
Milan (IT)
part of Festival Milano Arte Musica 2025
J.S. Bach - Clavierübung II
Music for Organ and Lutes
Žemalės Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. Virgin Mary Church, Mažeikiai (LT)
part of IV International Mažeikiai Organ Music Festival 2025
with Christian Velasco Vázquez (lute) and Niels Pfeffer (lute)
Mala Punica: Johannes Ciconia
AMUZ, Antwerp (BEL)
Direction: Pedro Memelsdorff
Duo Recital
Hřbitovní kostel Panny Marie, Vyškov (CZ)
Recital part of the Summer Baroque Festival in Vyškov.
Michaela Koudelková - Traverso and Recorder
Gabriel Smallwood - Harpsichord
Semele
Knights Academy, Royal Hall, Legnica (PL)
Le Sommeil
Music by M. Marais, G. F. Handel and John Eccles
Semele
Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, Środa Śląska (PL)
Le Sommeil
Music by M. Marais, G. F. Handel and John Eccles
Semele
Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary, Kłodzko (PL)
Le Sommeil
Music by M. Marais, G. F. Handel and John Eccles
Semele
National Music Forum, Red Hall, Wrocłav (PL)
Le Sommeil
Music by M. Marais, G. F. Handel and John Eccles
Alcina
Klaipėda Concert Hall, Klaipėda (LT)
Rodrigo Calveyra, Conductor and Artistic Direction
Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra
Alcina
Palace of the Grand Dukes, Vilnius (LT)
Rodrigo Calveyra, Conductor and Artistic Direction
Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra
Semele
Museum Kleines Klingental, Basel (CH)
Le Sommeil
Music by M. Marais, G. F. Handel and John Eccles
Vogelgesang
Kulturhaus Rain, Kleindöttingen (CH)
Tzu-Chi Kuo - Recorder
Stephen Moran - Viola da Gamba
Simon Vander Plaetse - Lute
Gabriel Smallwood - Harpsichord
Bach to Bruckner
Florence, SC USA
Florence Symphony Orchestra
J.S. Bach - Harpsichord Concerto in A major, BWV 1055
Semele
Landgasthof Riehen (CH)
Le Sommeil
Music by G. F. Handel, J. Eccles and M. Marais
Broken Colors
Quartierzentrum Iselin, Basel (CH)
Chamber Music from early 17th-Century Italy
pseudonym
Liane Sadler // Traverso
Maya Webne-Behrman // Violin
Stephen Moran // Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood // Harpsichord
Broken Colors
Museum Kleines Klingental, Basel (CH)
Chamber Music from early 17th-Century Italy
pseudonym
Liane Sadler // Traverso
Maya Webne-Behrman // Violin
Stephen Moran // Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood // Harpsichord, Organ
Sulle orme italiane. Dialoghi tra corde e tasti
Monastero di Trinità dei Monti, Refettorio dei Minimi, Rome (IT)
Beatriz Lopez Paz, Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood, Harpsichord
Clavicymbalum Recital
QuBa Quartierzentrum, Basel (CH)
Medieval keyboard music from the 14th and 15th centuries
Les Festins du Vendredi
Harpsichord Recital
Palazzo Annibaldeschi, Monte Compatri (IT)
Keyboard works by Sweelinck, Cornet, Bull, Philips, Frescobaldi
Discret et distrait
AMUZ, Antwerp (BEL)
Music by F. Couperin, J. Rameau and G. P. Telemann
pseudonym
Liane Sadler // Traverso
Maya Webne-Behrman // Violin
Stephen Moran // Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood // Harpsichord
fitted for...
Zunftsaal Schmiedenhof, Basel (CH)
Corellis Sonaten und Concerti
da camera
El Gabinete de Música
Soko Yoshida, Violin
Carlos Leal Cardín, Cello
Pablo Fitzgerald, Theorbo
Gabriel Smallwood, Harpsichord
Telemann in Paris
Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Ghent (BEL)
pseudonym
Liane Sadler // Traverso
Maya Webne-Behrman // Violin
Stephen Moran // Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood // Harpsichord
Charles Burneys Europareise
Alte Kirche, Linnich-Körrenzig (DE)
Festival Fonte Vivace
Ensemble Das Kolorit
Sophia Schambeck, recorders
Leon Serafin Jänicke, theorbo and baroque guitar
Mariona Mateu Carles, violone in G
Gabriel Smallwood, harpsichord
Viola von der Burg, Recitation
Harpsichord Recital
Springer Clavier Collection, Weinheim-Hohensachsen (DE)
Recital on a Kirckman harpsichord from 1759
LOS VIAJES POR EUROPA DE CHARLES BURNEY
Iglesia de los Jesuitas, Segura de la Sierra (ES)
Música en Seguara
Ensemble Das Kolorit
Sophia Schambeck, recorders
Leon Serafin Jänicke, theorbo and baroque guitar
Mariona Mateu Carles, violone in G
Gabriel Smallwood, harpsichord
Irene Martín Guillén, Recitation
Discret et distrait
St. Mary's Church, Beverley (UK)
Beverley and East Riding Early Music Festival
Music by F. Couperin, J. Rameau and G. P. Telemann
pseudonym
Liane Sadler // Traverso
Maya Webne-Behrman // Violin
Stephen Moran // Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood // Harpsichord
Discret et distrait
Finska kyrkan, Stockholm (SE)
Stockholm Early Music Festival
Music by F. Couperin, J. Rameau and G. P. Telemann
pseudonym
Liane Sadler // Traverso
Maya Webne-Behrman // Violin
Stephen Moran // Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood // Harpsichord
Discret et distrait
Klosterkirche, Medingen (DE)
Tage der Alten Musik Medingen
Music by F. Couperin, C.P.E. Bach and G. P. Telemann
pseudonym
Liane Sadler // Traverso
Maya Webne-Behrman // Violin
Stephen Moran // Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood // Harpsichord
Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo
Stiftskirche St. Georgen, Längsee (AT)
triagonale Festival der alten Musik
Oratorio by Emilio de’ Cavalieri (ca. 1550–1602)
Stage and artistic direction: Emile Ribokaite
Musical direction: Indre Kučinskaite, Gabriel Smallwood
ŠVIESOS IR ŠEŠĖLIŲ TEATRAS
Kintų Didžioji bažnyčia, Kintai (LT)
Works by Francesco Cavalli (1602–1676)
Ensemble Canto Fiorito
Rodrigo Calveyra – cornetto, recorder, musical direction
Renata Dubinskaitė – mezzosoprano
Rodney Prada – viola da gamba
Margherita Burattini – baroque harp
Gabriel Smallwood – harpsichord
ŠVIESOS IR ŠEŠĖLIŲ TEATRAS
Kruonio bažnyčia, Kruonis (LT)
Works by Francesco Cavalli (1602–1676)
Ensemble Canto Fiorito
Rodrigo Calveyra – cornetto, recorder, musical direction
Renata Dubinskaitė – mezzosoprano
Rodney Prada – viola da gamba
Margherita Burattini – baroque harp
Gabriel Smallwood – harpsichord
Broken Colors
Concertgebouw Brugge, Kamermuziekzaal, Bruges (BEL)
MA Festival
Chamber Music from early 17th-Century Italy
pseudonym
Liane Sadler // Traverso
Maya Webne-Behrman // Violin
Stephen Moran // Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood // Harpsichord, Organ
Luce Soavissima
St. Pierre le Jeune, Strasbourg (FR)
17th century Venetian chamber music
Ensemble Celesti Fiori
Henry van Engen: ténor/sacqueboute
Clément Gester: cornet/recorder
Indrė Kučinskaitė: cornetto/recorder
Gabriel Smallwood: organ
Solo Recital
Stiftskirche Herrenberg (DE)
Medieval music for organ and organetto
Voices in Golden Light
Hřbitovní kostel Panny Marie, Vyškov (CZ)
Viera Maňásková - Soprano
Alina Dubik - Mezzosoprano
Michaely Koudelkové - Recorder
Zbigniew Dubik, Eva Nováková, Sarah Jedličková - String orchestra
Gabriel Smallwood - Harpsichord
Telemann Paris Quartets
Freie Musikschule Basel, Basel (CH)
Concerts Aurore
Ensemple pseudonym
Liane Sadler // Traverso
Maya Webne-Behrman // Violin
Stephen Moran // Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood // Harpsichord
Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo
Šumskas Laukininkai Manor, Geibuliai, Vilnius (LT)
Šumskas Manor Early Music Festival
Oratorio by Emilio de’ Cavalieri (ca. 1550–1602)
Stage and artistic direction: Emile Ribokaite
Musical direction: Indre Kučinskaite, Gabriel Smallwood
Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo
Šumskas Laukininkai Manor, Geibuliai, Vilnius (LT)
Šumskas Manor Early Music Festival
Oratorio by Emilio de’ Cavalieri (ca. 1550–1602)
Stage and artistic direction: Emile Ribokaite
Musical direction: Indre Kučinskaite, Gabriel Smallwood
GLÄNZENDE PRACHT
Gesellschaftshaus Magdeburg (DE)
Alexandra Mikheeva, Trumpet
Patrice Boileau, Trumpet
Alexander Koderisch, Timpani and Violoncello
Asako Ueda, Violin and Theorbo
Dávid Budai, Viola da gamba
Gabriel Smallwood, Harpsichord and Organ
