Kjell Samkopf started his professional career as an orchestral musician in 1972. He was a timpanist in the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (1974-75) and a deputy musician in the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra (1975-82). In 1979 he got a full time position as percussionist in the Norwegian National Opera.
From the beginning of the 1980s he increasingly concentrated on performing contemporary music. Throughout his practice he has participated in several ensembles, namely, the New Music Ensemble (1979-83) and the contemporary music ensemble Octoband (1980-85). In his circle of artistic friends, Samkopf would frequently perform with people such as the poet Kjell Erik Vindtorn and The Fatah Morgana Quartet (1985-97).
Samkopf has had a number of performances as a soloist of his own works in percussion and electronics. Among these are the performances at the Bergen International Festival 1980, the World Music Days in Aarhus, Denmark 1983, a solo tour in Sweden with Rikskonserter 1984, Percussion Days - University of Arizona 1995, Illinois, Festival in Northern Norway 1999 and Son Poetry Festival south of Oslo 2000.
His success has extended to the release of several CDs of his own music. His debut album was the LP Solo Percussion with electronics (1983). In 2020 his latest CD came out: Seed Circulation.
Kjell Samkopf startet sin profesjonelle karriere i 1972 som orkestermusiker. I 1974/75 var han paukist i Trondheim Symfoniorkester, og i 1979 ble han ansatt som slagverker i Den Norske Operas Orkester. Fra 1975 til 1982 var han også fast ekstramusiker i Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester.
På begynnelsen av 1980-tallet begynte Samkopf å konsentrere seg mer og mer om framføring av samtidsmusikk. Han var fast medlem av Ny Musikks Ensemble (1979-83) og samtidsmusikkensemblet Octoband (1980-85). I årene 1985 - 97 spilte han jevnlig med poeten Kjell Erik Vindtorn og The Fatah Morgana Quartet.
Samkopf har hatt flere oppdrag som solist i egne verker for slagverk og elektronikk. Han har bl.a. opptrådt ved Festspillene i Bergen 1980, Verdensmusikkdagene i Århus 1983, soloturne i Sverige i regi av Svenske Rikskonsertene 1984, Percussion Days - University of Arizona 1995, Ilios 1999, Son Poesifestival 2000.
Samkopf har utgitt flere CD-er med egen musikk. I 1983 kom debut-LP-en Solo Percussion with electronics. I 2020 kom hans seneste CD Seed Circulation ut.