Born in Sundsvall, 6th April 1951. He studied composition with Arne Mellnäs and Gunnar Bucht 1974-1977. His studies at the State College of Music in Stockholm led him to graduate, in 1980, as a teacher of music theory. In 1982 Ahlin went to the USA to study composition with Fred Fox at Indiana University. He has been on the staff of the State College of Music, Stockholm, since 1981, as a teacher of music theory.

Sven Ahlin’s first work with an opus number is the orchestral piece Across, written in 1982. Since then he has presented several works on a smaller scale, frequently settings of poetry. Tre phula sånger, to words by Gunnar Ekelöf is humorously personal. Förevigande, to a poem by Wislawa Szymborska (in Swedish translation), composed for unaccompanied mixed choir and first performed in the spring of 1986, points in a more romantic direction. Triombe is a purely instrumental piece, contrasting three trumpets with a recorded tape. ... genom väsensdjupet... is the title of a work, composed to excerpts from Dag Hammarskjöld’s Markings. In it Ahlin continues to develop his sensitivity for levels and dimensions of language, conveyed in a pensive and closely integrated style.

Other works include Al Fresco for piano and orchestra and Famolaneng, commissioned by Stockholms musikpedagogiska institut and first performed by pupils from the school at the Music Museum in April 1986. In the years 1986-1987 Ahlin took an interest in the trombone quartet, composing many works for the Lamina Quartet.
Stig Jacobsson