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Happy female singer in a red dress holds up one arm in the air in front of an orchestra
Happy female singer in a red dress holds up one arm in the air in front of an orchestra
Happy female singer in a red dress holds up one arm in the air in front of an orchestra

Academic Gala Concert

The Gala Concert marks the start of the Academic Celebration and everybody is welcome!

The Academic Gala Concert 2026

An evening where music and poetry meet and dreams come alive

Experience an evening filled with music, poetry and dreams as Linköping University invites you to the academic gala concert Choral Poetry. The concert serves as a ceremonial prelude to the university’s conferment ceremony the following day – a longstanding tradition in which new doctors are honoured with dignity and splendour.
During this unique evening, dreams are transformed into music. The programme spans centuries: from the classical elegance of Joseph Haydn and the lyrical expression of Fanny Hensel, through Wilhelm Stenhammar’s Nordic Romanticism and Lindblad’s Drömmarne, to contemporary choral works by composers such as Morten Lauridsen, Örjan Fahlström and Emil Råberg. The texts draw on literary giants such as William Shakespeare and William Blake, as well as Nordic poets including Olav H. Hauge. Each piece reflects the essence of a dream – as longing, contemplation, unease or a driving force moving us forward.
The evening is framed by the Linköping University Chamber Choir under the direction of Jakob Grubbström, Director Musices at Linköping University, with pianist Per Lundberg as accompanist. Together they create a musical encounter that inspires reflection and confidence in the future.

Performers: Linköping University Chamber Choir, pianist Per Lundberg and conductor Jakob Grubbström. Friday 29 May, 19:00–20:20, Katedralskolan, Linköping. Tickets: Billetto.
The Linköping University Chamber Choir consists of accomplished singers with strong ties to the university and the region’s vibrant musical life. Through this gala concert, art, research and tradition come together in an evocative celebration of academic dreams and the power of progress.

A conductor in a tuxedo standing in front of a stage. Magnus Johansson

What is the Academic Gala Concert?

The Academic Gala Concert marks the start of the Academic Celebration, which takes place in May every year. The concert is created by the university’s own conductors, and always includes one or more of the university’s professional ensembles; the Linköping University Women’s Choir (Linnea), the Linköping Academic Orchestra, the Linköping University Male Voice Choir and the Linköping University Chamber Choir. As the concert is open to the public, everyone has a chance to be part of a fantastic experience.

Ensembles

Linköping University Chamber Choir

Linköping University Chamber Choir

The Linköping University Chamber Choir, founded in 1989, is a part of Music at Linköping University. The choir consists of 40 highly experienced song artists, all of whom live in Östergötland.
A group of women singing with microphones in front of them.

The Linköping University Women's Choir

The choir offers students, as well as other skilled singers, high-level choral singing with a professional conductor and a social environment where one can make friends and build a lifelong network.
Picture of Linköping's student singer

The Linköping University Male Voice Choir

The singers are recruited both from within the university and outside, to ensure the highest possible musical quality. The choir consists of approximately 60 singers, properly dressed in tails.

Music at LiU

Music at Linköping University

Music at LiU is the music centre of Linköping University. Here you will find students and others who make music, rehearse, hold concerts and study music. Everyone is welcome to play and sing in Music at LiU’s choirs and orchestra.

Previous Academic Gala Concerts

2025
A celebratory concert featuring a symphony orchestra, three choirs and mezzo-soprano Ebba Lejonclou paid tribute to Linköping University’s 50th anniversary with music by Brahms, newly composed works by Mikael Fall and classic student songs. The evening at the De Geer Hall was filled with optimism, joy and musical brilliance, together with the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and conductors Merete Ellegaard and Jakob Grubbström.
2024
This year’s Academic Celebration Concert opened a window into the world of children through evocative classical music, games, puppets and Harry Potter. Childhood was explored playfully, inviting us to reflect on our own early years. Linköping Academic Orchestra and Linköping University Women’s Choir presented an evening full of humour, warmth and joy! Conductor: Merete Ellegaard.
2023
The theme of this year’s Academic Celebration Concert was poetry and the encounter between Linköping University Chamber Choir and pianist-composer Elise Einarsdotter. The title “Secrets on the Way” comes from a poem by Tomas Tranströmer. Soloist: Katarina Henryson. Musicians: Olle Steinholtz, double bass, and Svante Henryson, cello. Conductor: Christina Hörnell.
Autumn 2022 (extra performance)
“We belong to the world.” Linköping University Women’s Choir joined the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra in a musical odyssey across the world with works reflecting our planet and what unites humanity. Conductor: Merete Ellegaard.
Spring 2022
The theme for the first Academic Celebration Concert of the year was Jubilee. The Linköping University Male Voice Choir, celebrating its 50th anniversary, performed together with the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Christina Hörnell. The programme included works by Hugo Alfvén (150th anniversary) and Povel Ramel (100 years). Soloist: August Goldhahn. Presenter: Jakob Vrang.
2020 and 2021
Cancelled due to the pandemic.
2019
An opera celebration with highlights from the operatic repertoire performed by the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Linköping University Chamber Choir and Linköping University Male Voice Choir. Soloists: Karolina Blixt, soprano, and Hans Klareskog, baritone. Conductor: Christina Hörnell.
2018
Music from three centuries featuring the Linköping University Male Voice Choir and Linköping Academic Orchestra. Soloists: Noah Hofvander, saxophone, and Hans Klareskog, baritone. Conductors: Merete Ellegaard and Christina Hörnell.
2017
The theme for this year’s concert was music with Russian influences and texts drawn from William Shakespeare’s plays. The programme included Stenhammar’s “Vårnatt,” Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Three Shakespeare Songs,” Jaakko Mäntyjärvi’s Shakespeare songs and Balakirev’s overture to “King Lear.” The concert concluded with Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances” from the opera “Prince Igor.” Linköping University Chamber Choir and Linköping Academic Orchestra. Conductors: Merete Ellegaard and Christina Hörnell.
2016
Swedish music for choir and orchestra. Soloist: Henrikka Gröndahl, soprano. Linköping University Chamber Choir and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. Works by Hugo Alfvén, Ulrika Emanuelsson, Lars-Erik Larsson and Elfrida Andrée. Conductor: Christina Hörnell.
2015
Academic Jubilee Celebration Concert – Linköping University’s 40th anniversary. Linköping University Male Voice Choir, Linköping University Women’s Choir, and Linköping Academic Orchestra. Soloists: Elin Rombo, soprano, and Christian Ellergaard, violin. Conductors: Merete Ellegaard and Christina Hörnell.
2014
“Fine” – Farewell concert for Hans Lundgren. Linköping University Male Voice Choir, Linköping University Women’s Choir, Linköping University Chamber Choir, Linköping Academic Orchestra. Pianist: Sanna Sundstedt. Conductors: Merete Ellegaard and Hans Lundgren.
2013 Autumn
Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace. Linköping University Chamber Choir and the Östgöta Wind Symphony. Conductor: Hans Lundgren. Soloists: Marie Alexis, soprano; Anna Zander Sand, alto; Olof Lilja, tenor; Joakim Schuster, bass; Zekerijah Cajlacovic, imam.
2013 Spring
Linköping Academic Orchestra and the pro Musica Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Merete Ellegaard. Soloists: Malin Broman, violin, and Jakob Koranyi, cello.
2012 Autumn
Linköping Academic Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Bartosch. Soloist: Staffan Scheja.
2012 Spring
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Merete Ellegaard.
2011 Autumn
The folk music group JP Nyströms.
2011 Spring
“Co-operation.” A concert of opera music with Linköping University Women’s Choir, Linköping University Male Voice Choir and Linköping Academic Orchestra. Soloist: Åsa Danielsson, soprano. Conductors: Merete Ellegaard and Hans Lundgren.
2010 Spring
Spring concert with Linköping University Women’s Choir and Linköping Students’ Male Voice Association Lihkören. Conductors: Merete Ellegaard and Hans Lundgren.
2009 Autumn
Linköping Academic Orchestra. Music by Oskar Lindberg, Kent Olofsson and Antonín Dvořák. Soloist: Carl-Oscar Osterlind, cello. Conductor: Michael Bartosch.
2009 Spring
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. Music by Hugo Alfvén, Gustaf Bengtsson, Jean Sibelius, Rolf Martinsson and others. Soloist: Mikael Wenhov, violin. Conductor: Andreas Alin.
2008 Autumn
“Reflections.” Mats Bergström, guitar; Svante Henryson, cello; Olle Persson, vocals and violin; Lena Willemark, vocals and violin.
2008 Spring
Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. Linköping Academic Orchestra, Lunnevad Folk High School Symphony Orchestra and the university’s choirs. Soloists: Madeleine Barringer, soprano, and Olle Persson, baritone. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
2007 Autumn
“In Linnaeus’ footsteps. From Sweden out to the world!” Academic Celebration Concert honouring Carl Linnaeus with Linköping University Women’s Choir. Soloist: Mats Jansson, piano. Conductor: Anna-Carin Strand.
2007 Spring
Piano concerto by Robert Schumann and music by J. H. Roman and Oskar Lindberg with Linköping Academic Orchestra. Soloist: Anders Toberntsson, piano. Conductor: Torbjörn Köhl.
2006 Autumn
Requiem by Johannes Brahms with the university’s choirs and Linköping Academic Orchestra. Soloists: Karin Frölén, soprano; Daniel Hällström, baritone. Leader: Torbjörn Köhl. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
2006 Spring
Brahms, Alfvén and Mozart. Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. Soloist: Johnny Jannesson, clarinet. Conductor: Josep Caballé-Domenech.
2005 Autumn
Musical salon with Brahms’ Liebesliederwalzer. Students from LiU’s Chamber Music course and Vadstena Folk High School music programme.
2005 Spring
Lars-Erik Larsson’s God in Disguise. Linköping University Women’s Choir, Lihkören and Linköping Academic Orchestra. Soloists: Marie Göranzon, Anna-Carin Strand and Oskar Ganestål. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
2004 Autumn
“Lorca!” Linköping University Chamber Choir and soloists. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
2004 Spring
Mozart’s Requiem. Linköping University Women’s Choir, Linköping Academic Orchestra. Soloists. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
2003 Autumn
“Classically Cool.” Wieska and Hubert Szymczynski.
2003 Spring
Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. Lihkören, Linköping University Women’s Choir, Linköping University Chamber Choir, Linköping Academic Orchestra. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
2002
Camerata Roman. Linköping University Chamber Choir. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
2001
Lars Edlund’s Näverbitar and Lars-Erik Larsson’s God in Disguise. Lihkören, Linköping University Women’s Choir, Linköping University Chamber Choir, Linköping Academic Orchestra. Soloists. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
2000
Jubilee Concert. LiTHe Blås, LiHtösen, Chorus Lin, Akademiska Kören, Lusen, Linnea, Lihkören, Linköping Academic Orchestra, host Jonas Hallberg. Conductors: Hans Lundgren, Sten Bäckman and others.
1999
Tippett: A Child of Our Time. Linköping University Women’s Choir, Lihkören, Linköping University Chamber Choir, Linköping Academic Orchestra. Conductor: Jonas Dominique.
1998
“Music of Our Time.” Linköping University Chamber Choir. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
1997
Anthems by Handel. Linköping University Chamber Choir, Swedish Baroque Orchestra, soloists. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
1996
Linköping University Chamber Choir, Linköping Academic Orchestra. Conductor: Per Borin.
1995
Linköping University Chamber Choir, Linköping Academic Orchestra. Conductor: Per Borin.
1994
Linköping University Chamber Choir, conductor Hans Lundgren; Linköping Academic Orchestra, conductor Per Borin.
1993
Linköping University Chamber Choir, conductor Hans Lundgren; Linköping Academic Orchestra, conductor Per Borin; soloist Nils-Holger Areskog, organ.
1992
Linköping University Chamber Choir with instrumentalists. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
1991
Jesu meine Freude. Linköping University Chamber Choir and instrumentalists. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
1990
Linköping University Chamber Choir, Bach Collegium. Conductor: Hans Lundgren.
1989
Purcell and Handel. Bach Collegium. Soloist: Amelie Fleetwood, soprano.
1987
Bach Collegium. Soloist: Kerstin Lundin-Grevelius, alto. Conductor: Wladimir Schein.