ESKIL HEMBERG - Swedish composer, conductor and educator.

Eskil Hemberg (born 1938 in Stockholm) is one of the foremost Swedish composers of his generation and an important contributor to the administration of Swedish music life. On many levels, he has been instrumental in bringing Swedish choral music out on an international scene. He has composed a wide variety of works, including chamber music, although his focus has been on vocal music in its many forms, from compositions for the solo voice, a cappella choir and choral works with orchestra. He is also the composer of six operas (one of them, Saint Erik's Crown had its first American performance at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota) and he has composed for ballet, using the baritone voice with bassoon and strings.

Eskil Hemberg studied at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, has a music teacher's degree and holds higher degrees both as an organist and choir master. He has studied orchestra conducting with Maestro Herbert Blomstedt.

During 1959-83 Eskil Hemberg conducted the Akademiska Kören/Stockholm University Chorus, which made a number of concert tours in the United States during this period. Eskil Hemberg was also one of the Scandinavian clinicians at the Choral Associates' popular summer workshops in the 1970's.

An excellent and sought after organizer, Eskil Hemberg has held positions with and served on the board of many of the Swedish music organisations, including executive producer at the Swedish Broadcasting Music Department and Foreigh Relations Director at the National Institute of Concerts, as well as chairman of the Society of Swedish Composers. 1987-96 he served as both General Manager and Artistic Director of the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm. In 1974 he became a member in the prestigious Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

Internationally, Eskil Hemberg is President of the International Federation for Choral Music(IFCM) and one of its charter members. Since 1982, he maintains an active individual membership in the International Music Council (IMC), whose president he was 1992-94. Currently, Eskil Hemberg is the 2000 Pearson Distinguished Professor of Swedish Studies at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas.