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Born: December 7, 1943 - Varbergs församling, Halland, Sweden
Died: February 15, 2015 - Katarina församling, Stockholm, Sweden |
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The Swedish conductor, Gustaf [Gustav] Sjökvist, studied sacred music and orchestral conducting at the Royal Music Academy in Stockholm from 1963 to 1970. He received decisive impulses both during and following his studies from both Eric Ericson (in the field of choral conducting) and Herbert Blomstedt.
Gustav Sjökvist began his musical career in 1967 as the Cantor of Stockholm Cathedral and was Director of Storkyrkans kör (1967–2011). In 1981 he became cathedral musical director. From 1986 to 1994 he was Eric Ericson's successor as director of the internationally renowned Swedish Radio Choir, with which he embarked on a number of concert tours and made several recordings.
To be able to devote more attention to the contemporary choral literature, Gustav Sjökvist founded the "Gustav Sjökvist Kammarkor" in 1994. That same year he also became first guest conductor of the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, an ensemble with which he has maintained strong artistic ties for over 20 years and with which he primarily performs modern music.
For his musical accomplishments, Gustaf Sjökvist was honored in 1998 with the Royal “Litteris et artibus” medal: beyond this, in 2000 he was appointed Swedish Court Organist. Other prizes and awards include: Norrbymedaljen (1982); Ledamot nr 862 av Kungliga Musikaliska Akademien (1988); Professors namn (1991); Hugo Alfvénpriset (1994); Årets körledare (1996); Läkerols kulturpris (1999); Medaljen för tonkonstens främjande (2007); Ceciliapriset (2011). |
