JAN YNGWE was born in Kristinehamn on the 15th November, 1953. In 1973 he began the teacher’s training course at the Gothenburg College of Music, at the same time studying composition with Pavol Simai. He then studied conducting with Poul Jörgensen in Copenhagen, Milan Horvath in Salzburg and Norman del Mar in London. His breakthrough as a conductor came in 1980 when he won second prize in the Austrian radio’s international conductors’ competition. He teaches conducting at the Gothenburg College of Music.

Since 1978 Jan Yngwe has been choirmaster of the Pro Musica chamber choir, touring with the choir throughout the world. As a composer he concentrates on vocal music, but he has also written works for orchestra. Both harmonically and rhythmically his music bears traces of composers such as Bartók and Stravinsky.