Andreas Lönnqvist was the winner of ”The Swedish conductor’s competition” 2010. The prize was awarded to him with the the motivation that he is ”…a conductor with natural authority and a developed musicality who clearly transfers his intentions to the orchestra.”
Andreas has worked with most professional orchestras in Sweden, such as Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, the Nordic Chamber Orchestra, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra and the Östgota Wind Band. Between 20017-2012 Andreas held the position as Kapellmeister at the Malmö Opera, where he conducted more than 250 performances and concerts.
Andreas Lönnqvist started his musical career playing the violin but turned to conducting early on. Between 1997- 2005 he studied at the Royal Academy in Stockholm where his principal teachers were prof. Jorma Panula (orchestra conducting) and prof. Anders Eby (choir conducting). Lönnqvist has also attended masterclasses with, among others, Alan Gilbert, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Manfred Honeck. Salonen also guided Andreas during two weeks of private studies with him and the LA phil in 2003.
In the fall of 2009 Andreas conducted Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers” at the Folkoperan in Stockholm, and was praised by the national press for his achievements there, and in the summer of 2010 he conducted Puccinis “La Boheme” at Opera på Skäret, and also this time the critics pointed out his ability to create great opera. In 2013 he was reinvited to Opara på Skäret to conduct Rossini’s “Il Barbiere”, and in 2014 he again worked at Folkoperan in Stockholm, premiering “Amforta” by Jonas Forsell.
Andreas is also an experienced choir conductor, having worked with some of the best choirs in Europe, such as the Swedish Radio Choir, The Eric Ericsson Chamber Choir and Orphei Drängar. Since 2012 he is conductor and Artistic Director of the Lund Student Singers, one of Europes best male choirs.