Gabriel Smallwood
Senior Artist for Solokorrepetition Cembalo, Cembalo (Supplementary Subject) from October 2026 on.
American harpsichordist Gabriel Smallwood is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising young musicians in the early music scene. A prizewinner at several prestigious international harpsichord competitions—including the Musica Antiqua Competition in Bruges, Belgium, the “Wanda Landowska in Memoriam” International Harpsichord Competition in Poznań, Poland, and the International Harpsichord Competition in Milan, Italy—he has captivated listeners with his impressive technical facility and his deeply nuanced and inspired playing.
Originally from South Carolina, Gabriel began his musical journey on the piano at age three. His passion for historical keyboard instruments was ignited at twelve when he first encountered the harpsichord. This fascination led to numerous research projects and performances during his teenage years, including solo and continuo roles with the South Carolina Bach Society. Gabriel commenced formal harpsichord training in 2019, towards the end of his Bachelor’s studies in Leipzig, and has since devoted himself entirely to early music and keyboard instruments.
As a soloist and continuo player, Gabriel is in high demand, regularly performing with esteemed early music ensembles across Europe and in the United States. His deep affinity for historical keyboards has brought him to notable collections in Greenville (SC), Hamburg (DE), and Bologna (IT). Recording collaborations include work with the NDR Philharmonie and Diana Damrau for Warner Classics. In 2026, Gabriel will release his debut solo album with Ramée, a prestigious label under Outhere Music, featuring the early works of Johann Sebastian Bach. In addition to his performing career, Gabriel is an accomplished composer who has won multiple national competitions in the United States. His compositions have been performed by leading orchestras, including a notable performance by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall in 2012 as part of the Carmina Burana Choral Project.
Gabriel’s extensive training includes harpsichord studies with Tobias Schade, Mitzi Meyerson, and Menno van Delft; organ with Wolfgang Zerer; and piano with Alexander Meinel. He has participated in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Christophe Rousset, Pierre Hantaï, Frédérick Haas, Skip Sempe, Carole Cerasi, Ketil Haugsand, and Catalina Vicens. He currently studies harpsichord with Francesco Corti and basso continuo with Jörg Andreas Bötticher at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland, the world’s leading institution for early music. Additionally, he studies medieval and Renaissance keyboard music under the tutelage of Corina Marti.