Skating | Karl Hugo Music

The Figure Skaters' Musician

BEIJING 2022 The Canadian tandem of Karl Hugo and Hugo Chouinard lent their musical talents to 51 figure skaters participating in the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Among these athletes, who represent 14 countries are Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA), Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson (GBR), Laurence Fournier Beaudry & Nikolaj Sørensen (CAN), Alexei Bychenko (ISR), Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA), Vanessa James & Eric Radford (CAN), Alexa Knierim & Brandon Frazier (USA), Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha (CAN), Keegan Messing (CAN), Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara (JPN), Kirsten Moore-Towers & Michael Marinaro (CAN), Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron (FRA), Madeline Schizas (CAN), Wang Shiyue & Liu Xinyu (CHN), Olivia Smart & Adrián Díaz (ESP), Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin (ROC) as well as Donovan Carrillo the first Mexican skater in 30 years to compete at a Winter Olympics.

Riding the wave of success harvested during the last Winter Olympics, the 2022-2023 season is full of musical commissions as varied as each other. In regards to the 2023 World Figure Skating Championships alone, Karl Hugo and his partner, editor Hugo Chouinard of Sk8mix lent their respective talents to 48 athletes who won 7 out of 12 medals. Among the most notable compositions are the one for the double world champion Kaori Sakamoto which is entitled Lovation (single available) and those for the bronze medalist Loena Hendrickx which constitute a complete original program with the musical pieces Heaven and Fallen Angel. Among the other participants in the Worlds who have used the musical services of Karl Hugo, we find: Kevin Aymoz (FRA), Christiana Carreira & Anthony Ponomarenko (USA), Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA), Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson (GBR ), Laurence Fournier-Beaudry & Nikolaj Sørensen (CAN), Boyang Jin (CHN), Ellie Kam & Danny O’Shea (USA), Yelim Kim (KOR), Alexa Knierim & Brandon Frazier (USA), Ilia Malinin (USA), Brooke McIntosh & Benjamin Mimar (CAN), Keegan Messing (CAN), Mai Mihara (JPN), Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara (JPN), Kimmy Repond (SUI), Nikita Starostin (GER) and Deanna Stellato-Dubeck & Maxime Deschamps (CAN).

A busy season also in the field of synchronized skating since in addition to having created music for the world champions Les Suprêmes, Karl Hugo also composed for the Miami University team a complete program in tribute to Beethoven aptly entitled Ode to Joy. Other teams that have called on Karl Hugo include Helsinky Rockettes, Haydenettes, United Angels and Nexxice.

Ice dancers Molly Cesanek & Yehor Yehorov skated to music Karl Hugo composed, filmed by Jordan Cowan at Bryant Park’s skating rink in New York City

A message from Hugo Chouinard and Karl Hugo, the Beijing 2022 musical tandem

Karl Hugo‘s new single Lovation is out! Created for double world figure skating champion Kaori Sakamoto, Lovation is the combination of the words Love, Admiration and Action. Karl Hugo composed and performed this hymn to love, taking inspiration from both the dynamic and modern side of Kaori, and his deep respect for traditional values rooted in the challenges of today’s life. A great lover of watercolors, Karl chose the cherry blossom tree for his single cover, to illustrate the beauty of renewal in its most timeless form. As ever, the passionate pianist-composer is accompanied by cellos and a string orchestra.

Kaori Sakamoto‘s 2022-2023 complete long program was edited by Hugo Chouinard of Sk8mix and choreographed by Marie-France Dubreuil & Sam Chouinard of I.AM.

Karl Hugo began playing and composing on the piano as a child, creating his first concerto when he was barely a teenager. During this period, he had an epiphany while watching the movie Ice Castles: he would spend the rest of his life composing music for figure skating! In 1992, his dream came true with the release of his first piano album. He then met Ice Capades star Julie Brault with whom he filmed Broadway, an ambitious video combining piano and figure skating.

Inspired by Karl’s passion for figure skating and his grandiose musical style, Olympic medalists Isabelle Brasseur & Lloyd Eisler asked him to compose and perform original music live for their television production Dreams on Ice, an annual fundraising event broadcast on more than forty television stations for many years. This unique experience afforded Karl the pleasure of watching great figure skaters the likes of Ekaterina Gordeeva, Nancy Kerrigan, Scott Hamilton, Brian Orser, Yuka Sato, Elvis Stojiko and Kristi Yamaguchi grow and develop to the sound of his music.

It was during this period that Karl Hugo began collaborating with Hugo Chouinard of Studio Unisons (sk8mix), musical designer specializing in figure skating, synchronized swimming and dancing. This fruitful 27-year partnership has never stopped renewing itself with the seasons of sport and new generations of athletes.

Karl Hugo’s first music video / 1994 Dreams on Ice

After coming to the attention of IMG in New York, Karl Hugo was invited to play his compositions at professional ice-skating shows such as Champions on Ice and Skate the Dream, always accompanied by his transparent Kawai piano. He also wrote music for ice dancers such as Isabelle & Paul Duchesnay, Isabelle Delobel & Olivier Schoenfelder and Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon.

With his experience, Karl then offers his services to new generations of figure skaters and synchronized swimmers, athletes and teams such as Miki Ando, Patrick Chan, The Haydenettes, Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue, Hong Chen & Yan Zhao, Marigold IceUnity, Gracie Gold, Yuzuru Hanyu, Sara Hurtado & Adrian Diaz, Yuna Kim, Cathy Reed & Chris Reed, Adam Rippon, Joannie Rochette, The Rockettes, Julianne Séguin & Charlie Bilodeau, Les Suprêmes, Synchro Brazil and Synchro Canada.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics, Karl Hugo lent his talents as a composer, arranger, orchestrator and performer to a number of figure skaters including Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (Italy), Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford (Canada), Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier (Canada), Marie-Jade Lauriault & Romain Le Gac (France), Kavita Lorenz & Joti Polizoakis (Germany), Kaetlyn Osmond (Canada), Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron (France), Ryom Tae-ok & Kim Ju-sik (North Korea), Denis Ten (Kazakhstan), Bradie Tennell (USA), Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (Canada), Shiyue Wang & Xinyu Liu (China) and Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (Canada).

Karl Hugo pays tribute to figure skaters at the Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games

Although due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 World Figure Skating Championships were unfortunately canceled, Karl Hugo still lent his musical talents to the following selected figure skaters: Jin Boyang (China), Daniel Grassl (Italy), Shoma Uno (Japon), Alicia Pineault (Canada), Maé-Bérénice Méité (France), Bradie Tennell (USA), Holly Harris & Jason Chan (Australia), Laurence Fournier-Beaudry & Nikolaj Sørensen (Canada), Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha (Canada), Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron (France), Marie-Jade Lauriault & Romain Le Gac (France), Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson (Great Britain), Misato Komatsubara & Tim Koleto (Japon), Kaitlin Hawayek & Jean-Luc Baker (USA), Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA), Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA) and Tiffany Zahorski & Jonathan Guerreiro (Russia). Note that the music of all programs for the Worlds would have been the same as that heard in the 2019-2020 season.

Karl Hugo’s recent music video featuring Shiyue Wang & Xinyu Liu and singer Junshu Zheng

Winter 2020, Karl Hugo joined forces with The Voice of China sensation Junshu Zheng, Chinese ice dance champions Shiyue Wang & Xinyu Liu as well as the renowned Canadian choreographer Marie-France Dubreuil to create a grandiose music video. For the needs of this collaboration with the Chinese label HIFIVE Music, Karl added English lyrics to one of his instrumental composition and thus created the song I Feel Lonely, later adapted into Mandarin (孤独的雪花). Not only is the result breathtaking, but it is also heartwarming to see that such a unifying project can still exist in today’s world in crisis.

In September 2020, Karl Hugo successfully launched a new instrumental single entitled Your Last Kiss. This vibrant piano and cello duet is an extended version of the music Karl composed for the latest free program of Olympic figure skating medalist Shoma Uno. Feeling Mathieu Caron draw the single cover inspired by the iconic costume he designed for Shoma. The entire program is based on the concept of choreographer David Wilson and Karl’s partner in figure skating music, music designer Hugo Chouinard.

On International Kissing Day 2021, Karl Hugo launched the sequel of Your Last Kiss single, an ardent piano and cello duet titled Endless First Kiss. For the art cover of his new opus, Karl chose the sketch of The Next Ice Princess dress, designed and drawn by Josiane Lamond and highlighted by vivid watercolor, which illustrates the almost epic emotions love can sometimes produce.

Endless First Kiss represents a glass slipper to find The Next Ice Princess. Thanks to this international contest organized by Elite Xpression, Karl Hugo Music and Sk8mix, the new ice princess wins a sumptuous tailor-made dress as well as grandiose original music that she will use in her next competition season.

Karl Hugo’s latest music video featuring Shoma Uno

If you need Karl Hugo’s musical talents for figure skating or synchronized swimming, please contact info@sk8mix.pro (514) 570-4846

Karl Hugo's work is split in 3 categories:

COMPOSITION

For double world champion Kaori Sakamoto, Karl Hugo composed the first part of her free skating program entitled Lovation.
Kaori Sakamoto 2022-2023 FS

For Loena Hendrickx, Karl Hugo composed the whole free skating program consisting of 2 music pieces entitled Heaven and Falling Angel.
Loena Hendrickx 2022-2023 FS

For Miami University Senior Synchro Team, Karl Hugo composed a complete program in tribute to Beethoven which he entitled Ode to Joy.
Miami University Senior Synchronized Skating Team 2022-2023 FP

For Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier’s free program, Karl Hugo composed a rock middle part entitled Redemption Through Love to fit the song Fix You by Coldplay.
Alexa Knierim & Brandon Frazier 2021-2022 FP

For pair skaters Vanessa James and Eric Radford, Karl Hugo composed a central part entitled Maelstrom.
Vanessa James & Eric Radford 2021-2022 FP

For the Shoma Uno’s long program (2019-2020), Karl Hugo composed and performed Your Last Kiss which is used in the first part and in the middle part of this program based on the song Dancing on My Own by Robyn performed by Calum Scott.

For the central part Karl Hugo composed for Gabriella and Guillaume a grandiose bolero entitled Love and Splander.
Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron 2016-2017 SD

For the central part Karl Hugo composed a very moving embrace on ice for Tessa and Scott entitled You Upset My Life.
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir 2016-2017 FD

For the central part Karl Hugo composed for Laurence and Nikolaj an exciting waltz entitled Summer Waltz.
Laurence Fournier & Nikolaj Sorensen 2014-2015 FD

This program represents the quintessence of Karl Hugo’s work composing original music for the beginning and the central part (instrumental) and adding new instruments such as piano to a song entitled Je suis malade (Lama/Dona) performed by Lara Fabian.
Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje 2017-2018 FD

In this program, Karl Hugo composed a strange and burlesque waltz called Pantomime Waltz.
Meraki Synchro Senior Free 2015

For central part of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah performed by K.D. Lang, Karl Hugo composed for Madison and Zachary a spiritual march entitled March of Angels.
Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue 2015-2016 SD

RECOMPOSITION AND ADAPTATION

For Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson’s free dance, Karl Hugo created a mashup by fusing Lady Gaga’s vocals with an original orchestral composition.
Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson 2022-2023 FD

For Les Suprêmes Senior Synchro Team, Karl Hugo created a mashup by merging a Beethoven tribute composition with the famous melody of Madama Butterfly.
Les Suprêmes Senior Synchronized Skating Team 2022-2023 FP

For Madison Chock and Evan Bates’s free program, Karl Hugo created a grandiose last part based on the song Touch by Daft Punk.
Madison Chock & Evan Bates 2021-2022 FP

For Hubbell and Donohue’s free dance, Karl Hugo composed a grand finale recalling the beginning of thier program and blending perfectly with Kissing You performed by Des’ree to ultimately create a kind of original mashup.
Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue 2018-2019 FD

Karl Hugo created an orchestral central part inspired by the song Hometown Glory by Adele.
Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford 2017-2018 FP

In order to offer more relief essential to figure skating, Karl Hugo adapted the song The Blower’s Daughter by Damien Rice using among others, piano, Irish fiddle, cello and guitar.
Jessica Dubé & Bryce Davison 2008 LP

Karl Hugo recomposed this music freely inspired by themes from Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. He orchestrated the music using not only Occidental and Japanese instruments but also gorgeous ethnic vocals without words.
Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon 2002 FD (Olympic program)

Karl’s very personal adaptation and performance of the famous You Are So Beautiful (Fisher/Preston) made popular by Joe Cocker.
Cynthia Phaneuf 2008 SP

ARRANGEMENTS AND ORCHESTRATION

Bradie Tennell

Inspired by the musical themes of the program while maintaining the same texture, Karl Hugo created this Olympic final.

Before:

After:

Virtue & Moir

In order to legalize and flesh out the last part, Karl Hugo added an orchestral beat that was initially subtle and more and more powerful and complex to a triumphant finale.

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