Howald and Ploug at the ZHdK from fall
The Zurich University of the Arts has appointed Dimitri Howald and Mikkel Ploug as main lecturers for guitar jazz/pop.
Dimitri Howald and Michel Ploug will be teaching at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) from the fall semester onwards.
Dimitri Howald (born 1993) is a nationally and internationally sought-after guitarist and composer. His seventh album released under his own name Southern Return brings together his diverse influences from contemporary jazz and new wave to tropicalismo to create a personal blend. He presents this music live in renowned clubs and festivals in Switzerland and abroad with his current formation Dimitri Howald & The Amnis Band as a quartet or as an extended band including string trio (SRF Kultur, 2025). He also performs with the Dimitri Howald Trio, composes and is active as a sideman in various projects. The list of clubs, festivals and musicians he has worked with is correspondingly long and diverse.
The Danish guitarist and composer Mikkel Ploug (born 1978) has performed throughout Europe, Brazil and the USA with his bands Mikkel Ploug Group, Mikkel Ploug Trio and Equilibrium. He has recorded 18 albums for internationally renowned labels and has worked with numerous international jazz greats. He has also performed as a soloist with the Royal Ballet in Copenhagen and collaborates with the American choreographer and dancer Tilman O'Donnell and the award-winning composer Bent Sørensen. The British jazz magazine Marlbank describes him as "...one of Europe's most pioneering contemporary jazz guitarists."
