THE WORLDS MOST BOISTEROUS ORCHESTRA

Skallsjö Sommarorkester consists of a group of young musicians who believe that classical music has gained a reputation it doesn't deserve. Our goal is to show the world how enjoyable music can be. Forget old customs and traditions, but keep the core - what makes us all dedicate our lives to music. It's not our music, it's everyone's. It's not our orchestra, it's everyone's. We learn from each other.

THE SELF-MANAGED ORCHESTRA

When Skallsjö Sommarorkester was founded in Skallsjö in 2013, the members were between 15-18 years old. The energy and motivation stemmed, then as now, from our love of music and the desire to share it. We chose the repertoire that excited us the most, organized as many concerts as we could manage, and dreamed of one day calling this our profession. In many ways, we are still the same group, the only thing that has changed is that we are 11 years older, and 11 years better. The musicians have evolved from high school students, through music colleges around the world, to professional musicians - either as employees or freelancers in some of the worlds’ top orchestras. We have evolved together and learned from each other. And the plan is to continue doing so. Once upon a time, we spent our valuable summer breaks on what we love most. Nowadays, we spend equally valuable vacation weeks playing together, even though we now dedicate our lives to music year-round. That is because Skallsjö Sommarorkester is, after all, something else. It's freedom. From stress, pressure, and the tradition-bound shackles in which classical music is partly imprisoned, and which can sometimes constrain its practitioners. All the energy and love for music that made a once small, naive idea live, thrive, and develop to this day, we want to convey to our audience. To everyone, at every concert.

the orchestra that wants something more

Music belongs to everyone and can touch us all. Music is humanity, care, and inspiration. Yet many would ask, is classical music dying? Our answer would be a firm "no"! But then we must also take our responsibility as performers, to find new ways to be relevant and interesting to our audience. We leave tailcoats and patent leather shoes at home and welcome applause and emotional expressions from the audience. We record music videos to enhance the experience of the music. As an audience at our concerts, we just want you to bring a good mood and an open mind. If you fall asleep, it's our fault.

the touring orchestra

The orchestra is based in western Sweden and has toured every summer since 2013, meeting audiences in all possible and impossible places. We have taken the music on adventures abroad in Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, and Denmark. We have visited countless small towns in western Sweden, which we like so much to visit precisely because they, unlike big cities, do not have their own orchestra playing week in and week out. We have played under the open summer sky by lakes, on cliffs in the archipelago, in monasteries and cathedrals, as well as on parade streets and shopping centers.

THE ORCHESTRA WITH ITS OWN FESTIVAL

Since the orchestra was founded in 2013, our goal has been to develop classical music and the stages on which it is played. We constantly want to challenge ourselves and our audience. We dare to think differently. The best kind of development is organic and occurs within music, like nature, when a small mutation takes hold and evolves into something bigger.

The Covid summer of 2020 led to a mutated version of our summer project, and by the summer of 2021, just a year later, it had grown into a chamber music festival that will continue for many years to come, acting as a platform for development and innovation. The festival has its main stage outside of Vänersborg, where ensembles from the orchestra play together with invited guests and soloists. Former soloists include, amongst others, Christina Nilsson, soprano and Andreas Brantelid, cello. 

We named the festival with the process, development, and nature in mind: Evolution Music Festival.

want to get in touch?

For general inquires, please email info@sommarorkester.se.

For questions about Skallsjö International Composing Competition, please visit this page or email us at info@sommarorkester.se.

For bookings and practical questions, please contact our wonderful producer Sverker at sverker.rundqvist@sommarorkester.se.