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The Swedish choral conductor and mezzo-soprano, Sofi Jeannin, was born in Stockholm to a Swedish mother and a French father, and grew up in Lindesberg, following her parents' divorce when she was age 8. In her youth, she studied piano and singing. She continued her musical education at the Conservatoire de Nice, where her instructors included Bertrand Dutour de Salvert. She additionally studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, where she also sang with the institution's vocal ensemble. In the UK, she continued studies in choral conducting at the Royal College of Music (London), where her teachers included Paul Spicer.
As a mezzo-soprano, Sofi Jeannin began to sing with London Voices in 2005. In 2005, she joined the faculty of the Royal College of Music Junior Department, teaching singing and choral singing, and has also taught at Imperial College. At the RCM, she conducted the UK premiere of Consolation I by Helmut Lachenmann in November 2006, and prepared the Royal College of Music Chorus for conductors including Bernard Haitink, Peter Schreier and David Willcocks.
From 2006 to 2008, Sofi Jeannin taught choral conducting at the Conservatoire d'Évry. In March 2008, Sofi Jeannin was appointed Music Director of la Maîtrise de Radio France, with responsibility for amateur choir training, free choral instruction for young people, and work with the neighbourhood children of Bondy. The choir famously favoured by Olivier Messiaen and Henri Dutilleux and she continues to have the musical and pedagogical responsibility of 180 choristers. During her time with la Maîtrise, she has commissioned many new works, collaborating with composers such as Kaija Saariaho, Péter Eötvös, John Adams and Thierry Escaich, and has given regular broadcasts on France Musique. She has conducted regularly at the St Denis Festival, including repertoire such as Messiae'sn Trois petites liturgies, W.A. Mozart's Vespers and the Sinfonia Concertante with Renaud Capuçon and Adrien La Marca.
In July 2015, Sofi Jeannin became Music Director of the Choeur de Radio France, the first woman to hold the title. Her tenure with the Choeur de Radio France was through the 2017-2018 season. Through her work with the French Radio Chorus - the largest professional symphonic chorus in Europe - she became the collaborative conductor of choice for a number of prominent figures, including Gustavo Dudamel, Bernard Haitink, Christoph Eschenbach and Valery Gergiev, collaborating with orchestras such as the Orchestre National de France, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
In January 2017, Sofi Jeannin first guest-conducted the BBC Singers in a concert at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge. In May 2017, the BBC announced her appointment as the next Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers, effective September 2018. She is the first female conductor to be named to the post, and the first female conductor to be named Chief Conductor of a BBC classical music ensemble. She made her debut at The Proms in August 2017 with the BBC Singers and the City of London Sinfonia. Recent performance highlights include appearances at the BBC Proms, including world premieres by Shiva Feshareki and Nico Muhly in the 2021 season; a collaboration with the Academy of Ancient Music and South Asian dance company Akademi exploring the dances of Rameau with classical and contemporary Indian dance; Francis Poulenc’s iconic choral work Figure Humaine with jazz interpolations from BBC New Generation Artist Misha Mullov-Abado, and Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem alongside music by J.S. Bach, Isabella Leonarda and Reena Esmail at Milton Court Concert Hall in London.
Alongside her work with the BBC Singers, Sofi eannin has a busy and fulfilling guest career, with recent and future engagement highlights including appearances with orchestras the Hallé Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, New Japan Philharmonic, Auckland Philharmonia, and Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra, conducting repertoire such as Joseph Haydn's The Seasons, Gabriel Fauré's Gloria, Igor Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms, Benjamin Britten's Sinfonia de Requiem, a selection of J.S. Bach's oratorio and Passion movements, and George Frideric Handel's Messiah. Choral project highlights include appearances with the Swedish Radio Choir, Coro Casa da Musica, DR VokalEnsemblet, Chamber Choir Ireland, NFM Choir Wrocław, and la Maîtrise de Radio France.
Committed to education and outreach work, Sofi Jeannin has worked with the chorus and orchestra of Kinshasa, Congo, and has also been involved in El Sistema, Greece since early 2017. She regularly gives workshops and master-classes around the world.
Renowned for her beautifully clear and succinct technique, and with a formidable repertoire knowledge and understanding across all genres, Sofi Jeannin has established herself as one of the finest and most respected choral specialists around today. She received the medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians of London in 2005. Her other honours include: Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (2009); Chevalier des Palmes Académiques (2018); Ordre national du Mérite (2021). |
