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Choir conducting diary
I have been conducting choirs since 2011, when a long period of intense watching gave way for active performances. The autodidactic learning had started long time earlier but from the moment of my first conducting project, it has accelerated continuously in intensity and depth. Training conducting means often practicing a musical art without access to an instrument or other musicians. To do it anyway requires some craziness and the pleasure to try out new approaches. The determination and focus of this long-term project has become an enormous enrichment of my life. Today I feel priviledged to have found a place where my passion for conducting can make a contribution beyond music and where I am free to shape projects and choir concerts in entirely new ways, emerged in a group of wonderful, creative people. A warm thank you to all of you who have supported me along the way and who still do.
Coming up:
In spring 2020, I will start working on a new program showcasing the works of modern swedish lyricists on the interconnection between human fate, our planet earth and the heavens. More details here:
> anima nordica: Sammanhang - Interconnection
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Current engagements:
Project-based chamber choir "anima nordica" for contemporary, predominantly Swedish, a-cappella music.
Running march - june. More details here
"Norden Runt" - open project choir for Scandinavian and Baltic choral music in Dresden-Blasewitz.
Running august-november. More details here
Completed projects
Some, information, thoughts and media from former projects and performances can be found here.
2019-08 > 2020-02 Norden Runt 2019 concert project "_ bin ich _" - A program on human identity with music from 7 nordic countries and interweaved short dramatic elements.
Concerts in Heilig-Geist Kirche, Christuskirche Strehlen and Betlehemkirche Tolkewitz.
2019-03 > 2020-02 anima nordica concert project "ansikte mot ansikte - Von Angesicht zu Angesicht" - Swedish and Latvian contemporary choir music that reflected on human encounters. Music interweaved with swedish poems.
Three concerts in Dresden at Heilig-Geist-Kirche, Schlosspark Pillnitz during the cultural festival "Elbhangfest" and together with "dresden jazz trio" at venue "Ecke Nord".
2018-08 > 2019-02 Norden Runt 2018 concert project "7 - Alles beginnt mit einem Anfang, endet mit einem Beginn" in cooperation with graphical artist Jutta Büschkes.
Enthusiastic audience again in our three concerts in Dresden at Heilig-Geist-Kirche, Christuskirche Strehlen and Betlehemkirche Tolkewitz. We collected >2000 Euro for charity.
2018-04 > 06 Starting nordic chamber choir anima nordica in Dresden-Blasewitz
Directing debut concert project "här och nu - here and now"
Contemporary swedish a-cappella music perfomed in two concerts in Dresden. We collected >1800 Euro for charity.
2017-08 >11 Open choir-project "Norden Runt" for scandinavian and baltic choir music in Dresden-Blasewitz
Concert project "Schlafwandlungen" > project description
We ended up as a group of singers with 7 nationalities who performed a 1-hour a-cappella program in 9 languages. We had our concerts at Heilig-Geist-Kirche Blasewitz and Himmelfahrtskirche Leuben for 700 enthusiastic listeners and collected more than 3000 Euro for charity. This was so much fun that this project will be continued. Stay tuned...
2017-06-17 Charity concert with Chalmers Sångkör in Heilig-Geist-Kirche, Dresden
I only organized this concert. Conducted only one piece in the performance for fun.
2016-12-02/03 Christmas concert with Chalmers Sångkör in Vasa Church, Gothenburg
Directing 1 piece as my farewell to the choir.
2016-06-01 Finalizing 2 years of studies at Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg with degree "Master of Fine Arts in Music with a specialization in Choral Conducting" > program description
As a part of my thesis work, I did video studies of other conductors to analyze what I could learn from imitating their conducting movements. The answer: A gorgeous lot! It was enlightening but much harder than what I could imagine. One fun result of this work is the following > video (P. S.: My conducting is done from memory and without visual guidance)
2015-10-24 Concert with Chalmers Kammarkör - Körnatta i Vasaaulan > Audio
We performed a very appreciated 10-minute program with title "Det brinner en eld" ("a fire is burning")
2015-04 Concert with Chalmers Manskör (male choir of Chalmers University)
2014-12-05 Live performance at Radio P4 GBG with Chalmers Sångkör > Audio
Program "P4 Förmiddag" with Hasse Andersson. We performed 5 songs live and got interviewed about the music.
2013-12-06 Live performance at Radio P4 GBG with Chalmers Sångkör > Audio
Program "Radiohuset" with Hasse Andersson. We performed 4 songs live and got interviewed about the choir and the upcoming christmas concerts.
2013-08 Choir conducting master class with Jan Scheerer, Copenhagen
One week on the topics "less is more" and "which conducting cues are really necessary"?
2013-06 Choir conducting master class with Harald Jers and Consono Chamber Choir, Cologne
Special focus on choir acoustic.
2013-05-27 Spring concert "En dröm om våren" with Chamber choir "Corona" > Program
Concert in the beautiful theatre "Aftonstjärnan", Göteborg
2012-07 Studentsommarkör GBG 2012, Antonin Tucapsky, Five Lenten Motets, "Eli, Eli" > Audio
Rehearsals and recording sessions during student choir summer break
Some old recordings...
2012-11-05 My concert-debute as a conductor: Eric Whitacre - Whith a lily in your hand > Video
Chalmers Kammarkör, autumn concert
2011-07 My first "bigger" conducting project: Gregori Allegri - Miserere > Audio
Chalmers Sommarkör 2011
Stephan Schönfeld, 2020 Impressum/imprint - I am not responsible for the content of external links from this website.