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Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award is a composition competition for choir music aimed at women composers. The competition is international and targets women composers irrespective of profession or nationality. All entries will be reviewed by a reputable international jury. History Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award was announced for the first time in 2013, when Allmänna Sången celebrated fifty years as a mixed choir. In connection to the anniversary, the choir announced a competition for women composers, together with Anders Wall, aiming to highlight them and their work, and inspire the creation of new choir music. Since then, the competition has been arranged four more times. Previous winners 2014 – Sandskrift, Maria Löfberg 2016 – Speeches, Anna-Karin Klockar 2019 – The Black Monkey , Eva Holm Fosnæs 2021 – When Breathing Like a Bird , Gittan Glans 2024 – En sådan kväll , Erika Hammarberg Upcoming competitions The next ASAWCA will be awarded in spring 2027, with applications opening in spring 2026. The winning contribution will be published by Gehrmans Musikförlag AB, and the winner receives a prize sum and a diploma. For other excellent contributions, second and third prizes may be awarded. All entries must adhere to the following criteria: • Must be unpublished and not previously performed • Must be written for a mixed voice a cappella choir with 4–12 parts • Must be 6–9 minutes long in total • Can be in any language • Can be written by any woman composer, irrespective of nationality, age, or profession For the most current information on terms and applications, follow Allmänna Sången and Allmänna Sången and Anders Wall Composition Award on social media. You are also welcome to reach out to us with questions through info@allmannasangen.se . About the choir Allmänna Sången was established in the year 1830 as a choir for male students in Uppsala, Sweden. Since then, it has become a mixed choir and gained wide acclaim as one of the best choirs in the country. It is also the oldest university choir in Scandinavia. Today, no formal connection between All- männa Sången and the university remains, but the choir still preserves some of the university traditions it helped create and is firmly anchored in the city’s student life. You can watch Allmänna Sången's first performance of the 2024 ASAWCA winner here below.

Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award is a composition competition for choir music aimed at women composers. The competition is international and targets women composers irrespective of profession or nationality. All entries will be reviewed by a reputable international jury. History Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award was announced for the first time in 2013, when Allmänna Sången celebrated fifty years as a mixed choir. In connection to the anniversary, the choir announced a competition for women composers, together with Anders Wall, aiming to highlight them and their work, and inspire the creation of new choir music. Since then, the competition has been arranged four more times. Previous winners 2014 – Sandskrift, Maria Löfberg 2016 – Speeches, Anna-Karin Klockar 2019 – The Black Monkey , Eva Holm Fosnæs 2021 – When Breathing Like a Bird , Gittan Glans 2024 – En sådan kväll , Erika Hammarberg Upcoming competitions The next ASAWCA will be awarded in spring 2027, with applications opening in spring 2026. The winning contribution will be published by Gehrmans Musikförlag AB, and the winner receives a prize sum and a diploma. For other excellent contributions, second and third prizes may be awarded. All entries must adhere to the following criteria: • Must be unpublished and not previously performed • Must be written for a mixed voice a cappella choir with 4–12 parts • Must be 6–9 minutes long in total • Can be in any language • Can be written by any woman composer, irrespective of nationality, age, or profession For the most current information on terms and applications, follow Allmänna Sången and Allmänna Sången and Anders Wall Composition Award on social media. You are also welcome to reach out to us with questions through info@allmannasangen.se . About the choir Allmänna Sången was established in the year 1830 as a choir for male students in Uppsala, Sweden. Since then, it has become a mixed choir and gained wide acclaim as one of the best choirs in the country. It is also the oldest university choir in Scandinavia. Today, no formal connection between All- männa Sången and the university remains, but the choir still preserves some of the university traditions it helped create and is firmly anchored in the city’s student life. You can watch Allmänna Sången's first performance of the 2024 ASAWCA winner here below.

Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award is a composition competition for choir music aimed at women composers. The competition is international and targets women composers irrespective of profession or nationality. All entries will be reviewed by a reputable international jury. History Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award was announced for the first time in 2013, when Allmänna Sången celebrated fifty years as a mixed choir. In connection to the anniversary, the choir announced a competition for women composers, together with Anders Wall, aiming to highlight them and their work, and inspire the creation of new choir music. Since then, the competition has been arranged four more times. Previous winners 2014 – Sandskrift, Maria Löfberg 2016 – Speeches, Anna-Karin Klockar 2019 – The Black Monkey , Eva Holm Fosnæs 2021 – When Breathing Like a Bird , Gittan Glans 2024 – En sådan kväll , Erika Hammarberg Upcoming competitions The next ASAWCA will be awarded in spring 2027, with applications opening in spring 2026. The winning contribution will be published by Gehrmans Musikförlag AB, and the winner receives a prize sum and a diploma. For other excellent contributions, second and third prizes may be awarded. All entries must adhere to the following criteria: • Must be unpublished and not previously performed • Must be written for a mixed voice a cappella choir with 4–12 parts • Must be 6–9 minutes long in total • Can be in any language • Can be written by any woman composer, irrespective of nationality, age, or profession For the most current information on terms and applications, follow Allmänna Sången and Allmänna Sången and Anders Wall Composition Award on social media. You are also welcome to reach out to us with questions through info@allmannasangen.se . About the choir Allmänna Sången was established in the year 1830 as a choir for male students in Uppsala, Sweden. Since then, it has become a mixed choir and gained wide acclaim as one of the best choirs in the country. It is also the oldest university choir in Scandinavia. Today, no formal connection between All- männa Sången and the university remains, but the choir still preserves some of the university traditions it helped create and is firmly anchored in the city’s student life. You can watch Allmänna Sången's first performance of the 2024 ASAWCA winner here below.

Allmänna Sångens och studenternas Gustav II Adolfsfirande Bakgrunden till firandet är den s.k. Gustavianska donationen år 1624 i vilken Gustav II Adolf till universitetet i Uppsala donerade närmare 400 gårdar men även torp, kvarnar och ängar. Donationen säkrade universitetets fortlevnad och än idag bidrar avkastning från den till att främja forskning och annan verksamhet vid universitetet. Minnet av Donatorn och dennes även med dagens mått enorma donation högtidlighålls årligen av Uppsalas studenter på hans dödsdag. Firandet inleds 19:00 med tal och sångarhyllning i Odinslund och därefter håller författaren Lars Munkhammar ett föredrag om Gustav Adolf och böckerna, ett föredrag om Gustav II Adolfs roll i skapandet av Uppsala universitetsbibliotek på Kalmar nation. Där kommer även Gustav II Adolfbakelser finnas att köpa. Måndagen den 6:e november kl 19 vid obelisken i Odinslund. PROGRAM Kl 19.00 Studenternas fackeltåg Sångframträdande av Allmänna sången Plats: Obelisken i Odinslund Ca kl 19.30 Efter ceremonin i Odinslund följer en föreläsning av Lars Munkhammar författare till flera böcker om Silverbibeln föredrag om Gustav Adolf och böckerna. Plats: Kalmar nation Fika finns att köpa. Varmt välkomna! Var / Obelisken i Odinslund När / 6 november 19:00 Inträde / Fri entré Dirigent / Maria Goundorina GIIA

Jul på Slottet 2023 Allmänna Sången once again invites you to a Christmas concert with new and old favorites in Rikssalen at Uppsala Castle. Traditional Christmas music is combined with newer tones for a magical Christmas experience to fend off the cold. We will perform music by, among others, Benjamin Britten, Ingvar Lidholm and Arvo Pärt. Let Jul på Slottet be the starting point for a wonderfully cozy Christmas! Guests this year are soloist Anton Eriksson, a baritone born in Umeå, and the pianist Victoria Power. Anton Eriksson graduated from the Opera College in Stockholm in 2007 and currently plays the Länsman in Ture Rangström's Kronbruden for Malmö Opera. Victoria Power is educated at the Royal College of Music in London and at the Edsberg Music Institute in Stockholm and also participated in last year's Jul på Slottet. Allmänna Sången is excited to collaborate with these musicians! Tickets are available h ere! Concerts take place: Saturday 2nd of December at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday 3rd of December at 3 p.m. Price for adult SEK 295 , for students and young people aged 7-18 SEK 150 Children under 6 have free admission. ATTENTION! It is not possible to buy a ticket at the door! Please buy your tickets digitally in advance! Very warm welcome!

HISTORY Allmänna Sången Allmänna Sången from Uppsala is one of Sweden's leading choirs. The choir recently received proof of this at the International Choral Competition Gallus in Maribor, Slovenia. Prior to that, the choir won the European Grand Prix 2005, Europe's premier choral competition. These wins have resonated in Music Sweden and established Allmänna Sången as one of the leading mixed ensembles in the country. This means that the choir has taken titles in every international competition it has entered since 1992. Allmänna Sången is an attractive collaboration partner for the country's top musicians. In recent years, artists such as Peter Mattei, Karl-Magnus Fredriksson, Kroumata and Magnus Lindgren have collaborated with the choir on stage and on disc. From male choir to mixed choir Allmänna Sången is Scandinavia's oldest academic choir, founded in 1830 as a male choir. In its early years, the choir laid the foundation for many student traditions that are still alive today in Uppsala. In 1963, Allmänna Sången was reorganised from a male choir to a mixed ensemble. Today, the formal link to the university is gone, although the choir still cultivates the academic traditions it founded. As an example, Swedish radio listeners have for years been able to hear spring songs from the Gunilla bell at Uppsala Castle with Allmänna Sången on Walpurgis Night. The choir's repertoire is broad and firmly rooted in art music, from the Renaissance to the present, but it is also not afraid to venture into new genres, such as big band jazz in Nordic Big Band Inferno 2016. The choir often premieres newly written music, and in recent years has highlighted music by contemporary female composers, resulting in the album Femina Moderna (2016) and the Allmänna Sången and Anders Wall Composition Award. The choir's sound has a youthful freshness that reflects its rather low average age, while still maintaining a high level of professionalism. Uppsala's rich musical life and choral tradition has long been a strong recruitment base and talented singers join the choir every year. In recent years, Allmänna Sången has made many appearances abroad, often by invitation due to its good reputation. In October 2011, Allmänna Sången recorded the soundtrack for the Chinese blockbuster film 'The Flowers of War' and toured China in September 2012. In 2014, the choir was invited to travel to Moscow, where it gave concerts at the Historical Museum on Red Square and in the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. In 2016, the choir traveled to Namur in Belgium with a delegation from Uppsala to participate in the regional festival Fêtes de Wallonie. At the 2009 Grammy Awards, Allmänna Sången, together with Anders Widmark, won a Grammy in the category "Classical of the Year" for the album Resonanser. In January 2010, Maria Goundorina took over as Allmänna Sången's vocal leader from Cecilia Rydinger. The protection of the Crown Princess The protector of Allmänna Sången is HRH Crown Princess Victoria. The choir was informed of this delightful news on March 12, 2005 - Victoria's name day - when the choir was shown a letter addressed to Allmänna Sångens then honorary chairman Professor Bo Sundqvist, now rector emeritus of Uppsala University. Höken Chalkiadakis Fanborg _MG_0623 Kopia 1 1877 Litografi Manskör repjpeg

We announce the winner of the Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award 2019. The well-renowned jury has reviewed contributions from 16 different countries and has chosen Norwegian Eva Holm Foosnæs as the winner of the award. In her piece “The Black Monkey”, she has built her music around the eponymous poem written by Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923). The price ceremony, as well as the world premiere, will take place in Uppsala the 25th of May 2019 during the traditional spring concert of Allmänna Sången. The prize consists of 50.000 SEK, a diploma and publishing of the piece by Gehrmans Musikförlag. The jury’s conclusion “With a very fine ear for the different characters and moods in the text Eva Holm Foosnæs has built an impressive dramatic composition with a good sense of musical form and with a humourous twist. The composition shows a mixture of traditional harmonics and more unusual elements with interesting glissandi and speech effects. The composer uses the resources of a mixed choir in a very clever way and gives room for all the 8 parts to be seen and heard during the work. By avoiding all extremes in notation and voicing Eva Holm Foosnæs has created a very usable composition that will be accessible for many mixed choirs in the world.” The composer Eva Holm Foosnæs was born in Steinkjer, Norway. She has earned degrees in piano and composing at the Music Conservatory in Trondheim, at the Conservatorio di Musica di Perugia, and the Robert Schumann Hochschule für Musik in Düsseldorf. She is today working as a freelancing arranger, composer, pianist and repetiteur and is also conducting the acclaimed chamber choir Aurum, working foremost with new Scandinavian music. Further, she is the artistic leader of Opera di Setra and Oslokspelet in Tylldalen. As a composer, she has written music mostly for choir, but also for stage, opera and theatre such as Propellen Teater, Trøndelag Teater and Lillehammer Litteraturfestival. The lyrics The Black Monkey is based in the eponymous poem by the New Zealand writer Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923). To the composer, the poem describes a little girl called Babbles because of her “babbling”. Instead of listening to her parents at bedtime she throws a series of tantrums, as if she was controlled by a “black monkey”. Thereby the black monkey symbolises a “girlish rebellion”, Eva explains. Words from the winner “My heart is beating for choral singing, as a conductor, composer, practitioner and as an audience. The long and rich tradition of choral singing that we have here in Scandinavia is something to be proud of. Therefore it inspires even more when driving forces like Allmänna Sången organize an award for female composers. It is a great honor and joy to receive this award. Thank you!” Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award was first held in the year 2013 as Allmänna Sången celebrated the 50th anniversary as a mixed choir. As a part of this celebration, the choir and Anders Wall declared this award focusing on female composers. The award wants to acknowledge female composers and their works, as well as stimulate the creation of new art music that will enrich the choir singing of our time. The award is international and is open for female composer without discrimination against occupation or nationality. The contributions are reviewed by a well-renowned committee consisting of prominent conductors and composers. They were this year Lone Larsen, Vaclovas Augustinas, Maria Goundorina and Robert Sund. Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award will again be held in 2021. For more information, visit www.allmannasangen.se or contact the project manager. Partners Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award have been made possible through collaboration with Gehrmans Musikförlag AB, as well as support from Kjell and Märta Beijers Stiftelse and Uppsala Municipality Pressmeddelande (svenska) Press release (english)

Uppsala, March 8th, 2024 Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award The winner of Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall C omposition Award 2024 has been selected. After reviewing contributions from countries all around the world, the jury has decided to give the award to Erika Hammarberg for her piece ”En sådan kväll (Such an evening)” based on a poem by Solveig von Schoultz. She will receive a prize sum of SEK 60, 000, in addition to having her piece premiered by Allmänna Sången and published by Gehrmans Musikförlag AB. The award ceremony and premiere of the winning piece is scheduled to take place at Allmänna Sången’s spring concert on May 4th, 2024. The jury’s remarks ”The composition is highly expressive, written in a romantic manner and blends very well with the text. The piece’s central motif is repeated in various ways throughout the well structured composition. The harmonies, including meaningful dissonances, are artfully crafted and seamlessly flow into each other, narrating the story with different atmospheres. The composer has a deep understanding of choral sound and techniques.” The composer Erika Hammarberg moves between jazz and classical music. Her music is characterized by linear melodies, layered rhythmic intensity and harmonies that range from triads to complex clusters. She has composed for jazz orchestra, choir, chamber orchestra and string quartet, and is musical director, pianist, arranger and composer for Elaria Orchestra. She released her debut album Ikigai in 2022. After studying piano pedagogy, Erika embarked on a path through music theory and musical arrangement before pursuing master’s studies in composition at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm under the guidance of both jazz composers and classically oriented teachers such as Örjan Fahlström, Peter Danemo, Johan Hammerth and Ann-Sofi Söderqvist. Erika Hammarberg is an associate professor in composition at Örebro university. Words from the winner – Choral music has been a natural part of me as a musician and composer since childhood. As my artistic focus lies in composing for acoustic instruments, I often and gladly compose for choir. – I want to cherish the Swedish choral tradition. I also believe that it is important for new and exciting choral music to be continuously composed and performed worldwide. Therefore, this award is a nice initiative for continued development, and I am very proud and honoured to receive it! – Solveig von Shoultz’s poem conveys strong emotions and a clear identity. For me, the text has gradually shifted from describing resting after a long day’s work to be about death. Perhaps this transformation can be heard in the end of the piece, with the final journey sensed towards the end? I improvised the music’s form, motif and sound at the piano while reading the text. Luckily, I recorded it with my phone! Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award was arranged for the first time in 2013 when Allmänna Sången celebrated fifty years as a mixed choir. In connection with the anniversary, the choir together with Anders Wall announced a competition for female composers. The purpose of the competition is to draw attention to female composers and their work, and to stimulate the creation of new choir pieces that can enrich and develop modern day choir music. The competition is international and targets female composers irrespective of profession or nationality. All entries are reviewed by a reputable international jury comprised of distinguished composers and conductors. This year, the jury was comprised of av Nana Forte, John Høybye, Robert Sund and Maria Go undorina. Partners Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award is made possible through a collaboration with Gehrmans Musikförlag AB and sponsoring from Kjell och Märta Beijers Stiftelse. Contact For more information about future competitions, visit www.allmannasangen.se or follow us on social media. Press release (English) Press release (Swedish)

The winner of Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award 2021 has been selected. After reviewing contributions from countries all around the world, the jury has decided to give the award to Gittan Glans for her piece ”When Breathing Like a Bird”. She will receive a prize sum of SEK 50, 000, in addition to having her piece premiered by Allmänna Sången and published by Gehrmans Musikförlag AB. The award ceremony and premiere of the winning piece is scheduled to take place at Allmänna Sången’s anniversary concert on October 23rd, 2021. The jury’s remarks ”The composer shows great knowledge in writing for choir, with smart usage of different compositional techniques. The strong technical foundation, together with a convincing approach to the metaphor of the text, makes this a standout piece, ready for richly nuanced interpretations worldwide.” The composer Gittan Glans is originally from Åsenhöga outside Gnosjö in Småland, Sweden. She has an education as a piano teacher from the music academy in Gothenburg and now works as a freelance musician, arranger, composer and piano teacher at the music academy at Södra Vätterbygdens Folkhögskola (SVF) in Jönköping. As a freelance musician she works across genres and feels at home in everything from jazz, folk music and pop to classical music. She has written music for everything from choir and symphony orchestra to big band and her own trio, Henningson & Glans. During the years 2007–2009 she featured as singer and multi-instrumentalist in the Swedish TV show På spåret. With a background as pianist and arranger, she has begun composing more and more during the last fifteen years, and has written music for choirs such as Jönköpings Kammarkör and Musiklinjens kör at SVF. The winning piece “A single little voice can suffice, and with that carry all of the hope we all need to feel” – so says the text author Marie Winald-Karlström in her comment about her lyrics. ”When breathing like a bird” consists of three parts. The first is playful and illustrates, among other things, raindrops. The second portrays the calm before sunrise. In the third part, the feeling of happiness shines through and the bird gets to give a voice to the big things contained within the small – ”When breathing like a bird”. Words from the winner “Choral music is something that has always been there and shaped my entire music life. I have sung a lot in choirs, such as in Göteborgs Kammarkör under the direction of Gunnar Eriksson. As a chorist you gain an insight into the structure of choirs and choral music, something that I think has inspired me, and that has had a great influence on my writing. In light of this, and because choral music is so dear to my heart, I feel truly honoured and immensely happy to have received this award. Thank you!!!” Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award was arranged for the first time in 2013 when Allmänna Sången celebrated fifty years as a mixed choir. In connection with the anniversary, the choir together with Anders Wall announced a competition for female composers. The purpose of the competition is to draw attention to female composers and their work, and to stimulate the creation of new choir pieces that can enrich and develop modern day choir music. The competition is international and targets female composers irrespective of profession or nationality. All entries are reviewed by a reputable international jury comprised of distinguished composers and conductors. This year, the jury was comprised of Libby Larsen, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Robert Sund and Maria Goundorina. Partners Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award is made possible through a collaboration with Gehrmans Musikförlag AB, together with sponsoring from Kjell och Märta Beijers Stiftelse and Uppsala kommuns kulturnämnd. Contact For more information about future competitions, visit www.allmannasangen.se or follow us on social media. Press release (English) Press release (Swedish)

VÄNFÖRENINGEN Allmänna Sångens Vänner Föreningen Allmänna Sångens Vänner har till syfte att i olika sammanhang stödja den aktiva kören, praktiskt och ekonom iskt, samt att ge tillfälle för medlemmarna att få träffas under otvungna former, återknyta gamla kontakter och möta nya sångarvänner. Under ett typiskt år för Allmänna Sångens Vänner utgör föreningen en trogen konsertpublik vid Allmänna Sångens konserter. Före vårkonserten inbjuds medlemmar till cocktail och årsmöte. Alumner blir inbjudna såväl till middagen efter vårkonserten som till Gustav II Adolfsmiddagen i november. På hösten genomförs den ”ständiga kräftskivan”, särskilt ämnad för ständiga medlemmar. Vid Allmänna Sångens evenemang deltar vi med anordnandet av sexor och andra typer av sociala sammankomster. Allmänna Sångens Vänner hålls informerade främst genom epost, men också genom den årsskrift som distribueras per brev en gång per år. I februari 2017 anordnades Vinnarfesten - bland skålar och pokaler, en eftermiddag med sång på temat tävlingar som Allmänna Sången har vunnit. På kvällen genomfördes en fest på samma tema. I februari 2019 hade vi tema-evenemanget Allmänna Sången på Skiva och traditionen fortsatte i februari 2022 med temat Fester vi minns – eller inte. Evenemangen har varit mycket uppskattade med mer än 150 deltagande sångare. Allmänna Sångens Vänner utdelar årligen ett stipendium till en sångare som gjort sig förtjänt därav. Medlemskap Föreningen står öppen för medlemmar av Allmänna Sången och övriga som visat ett särskilt intresse för Allmänna Sångens verksamhet. Årsavgiften är 300 kronor för årsbetalande och 50 kronor för aktiv medlem i kören. Ständig medlem blir man om man betalar in en engångssumma på 3 000 kronor. En ständig medlem har rätt att bära den ”ständiga medlemsnålen”. Medlemskap tecknas genom inbetalning på Allmänna Sångens Vänners plusgiro 155844-4, eller med Swish till 1234 388 252. Allmänna Sångens Vänners minnes- och hyllningsfond Föreningen har en egen minnes- och hyllningsfond. Genom att sätta in pengar, kan man hedra någon vid dödsfall eller hylla någon som fyller år eller jubilerar på annat sätt. Fondens medel går oavkortade till Allmänna Sångens verksamhet och den som uppvaktas får ett skriftligt bevis från Vänföreningen. Vid inbetalning, var noga med att ange vem som ska uppvaktas och varför, samt vem/vilka som gör inbetalningen. Beställ genom inbetalning på Allmänna Sångens Vänners plusgiro 155844-4. Allmänna Sångens Vänners konstmapp Allmänna Sångens Vänners konstmapp innehåller fyra litografier med uppsalamotiv tecknade av konstnären Yngve Svalander. Bilderna är kommenterade av Ejnar Haglund. Konstmappen är framställd i 300 signerade och numrerade exemplar och kostar 1 000 kronor. Beställ genom inbetalning på Allmänna Sångens Vänner plusgiro 155844-4. Kontakta Allmänna Sångens Vänner Kontakta Allmänna Sångens Vänner genom epost till asv@allmannasangen.se . Det går också bra att kontakta någon i föreningens styrelse, se nedan. Ordförande Jonas Oldgren jonaoldg@gmail.com Vice ordförande Carl Peter Wickström cpw@telia.com Skattmästare Gunnel Haulin Sekreterare Jacob Piehl Klubbmästare Josefina Jonsson Representant aktiva kören Mica Håll Medlemsrekrytering Akoth Makokha Sandell Övriga ledamöter Birgitta Wikmark Carlsson, Oloph Demker, Maria Lundblad

The winner of Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award 2021 has been selected. After reviewing contributions from countries all around the world, the jury has decided to give the award to Gittan Glans for her piece ”When Breathing Like a Bird”. She will receive a prize sum of SEK 50, 000, in addition to having her piece premiered by Allmänna Sången and published by Gehrmans Musikförlag AB. The award ceremony and premiere of the winning piece is scheduled to take place at Allmänna Sången’s anniversary concert on October 23rd, 2021. The jury’s remarks ”The composer shows great knowledge in writing for choir, with smart usage of different compositional techniques. The strong technical foundation, together with a convincing approach to the metaphor of the text, makes this a standout piece, ready for richly nuanced interpretations worldwide.” The composer Gittan Glans is originally from Åsenhöga outside Gnosjö in Småland, Sweden. She has an education as a piano teacher from the music academy in Gothenburg and now works as a freelance musician, arranger, composer and piano teacher at the music academy at Södra Vätterbygdens Folkhögskola (SVF) in Jönköping. As a freelance musician she works across genres and feels at home in everything from jazz, folk music and pop to classical music. She has written music for everything from choir and symphony orchestra to big band and her own trio, Henningson & Glans. During the years 2007–2009 she featured as singer and multi-instrumentalist in the Swedish TV show På spåret. With a background as pianist and arranger, she has begun composing more and more during the last fifteen years, and has written music for choirs such as Jönköpings Kammarkör and Musiklinjens kör at SVF. The winning piece “A single little voice can suffice, and with that carry all of the hope we all need to feel” – so says the text author Marie Winald-Karlström in her comment about her lyrics. ”When breathing like a bird” consists of three parts. The first is playful and illustrates, among other things, raindrops. The second portrays the calm before sunrise. In the third part, the feeling of happiness shines through and the bird gets to give a voice to the big things contained within the small – ”When breathing like a bird”. Words from the winner “Choral music is something that has always been there and shaped my entire music life. I have sung a lot in choirs, such as in Göteborgs Kammarkör under the direction of Gunnar Eriksson. As a chorist you gain an insight into the structure of choirs and choral music, something that I think has inspired me, and that has had a great influence on my writing. In light of this, and because choral music is so dear to my heart, I feel truly honoured and immensely happy to have received this award. Thank you!!!” Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award was arranged for the first time in 2013 when Allmänna Sången celebrated fifty years as a mixed choir. In connection with the anniversary, the choir together with Anders Wall announced a competition for female composers. The purpose of the competition is to draw attention to female composers and their work, and to stimulate the creation of new choir pieces that can enrich and develop modern day choir music. The competition is international and targets female composers irrespective of profession or nationality. All entries are reviewed by a reputable international jury comprised of distinguished composers and conductors. This year, the jury was comprised of Libby Larsen, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Robert Sund and Maria Goundorina. Partners Allmänna Sången & Anders Wall Composition Award is made possible through a collaboration with Gehrmans Musikförlag AB, together with sponsoring from Kjell och Märta Beijers Stiftelse and Uppsala kommuns kulturnämnd. Contact For more information about future competitions, visit www.allmannasangen.se or follow us on social media. Press release (English) Press release (Swedish)

Valborgsbal 2024