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Christoffer Sundqvist is one of the most renowned clarinetists of his generation.
Alongside his outstanding interpretations of the classical repertoire, this Finnish musician is distinguished as an ambassador of contemporary Nordic music.
More than 20 works have been dedicated to him by composers such as:
➤ Magnus Lindberg
➤ Erkki-Sven Tüür
➤ Aulis Sallinen
➤ Sebastian Fagerlund
➤ Markus Fagerudd
➤ Sampo Haapamäki
➤ Atso Almila
➤ Olli Kortekangas
➤ Jukka Linkola
He has appeared as a soloist with the leading Finnish orchestras as well as with:
➤ BBC Symphony
➤ Gothenburg Symphony
➤ Norrköping Symphony
➤ Estonian National Symphony
➤ Basel Symphony
➤ Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie
Under the baton of renowned conductors such as:
➤ Jukka-Pekka Saraste
➤ John Storgårds
➤ Sakari Oramo
➤ Okko Kamu
➤ Juha Kangas
➤ Anna-Maria Helsing
➤ Hannu Lintu
Chamber Music and Collaborations
Passionate about chamber music, Christoffer is co-founder of the brass quintet Arktinen hysteria and a longtime member of the Plus Ensemble of Turku.
He regularly performs at major festivals such as:
➤ Helsinki Festival
➤ Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival
➤ MärzMusik Berlin
➤ Warsaw Autumn
➤ West Cork Chamber Music Festival
He collaborates closely with renowned artists including:
➤ Pekka Kuusisto
➤ Hugo Ticciati
➤ Thorleif Thedéen
➤ Angela Hewitt
➤ Oliver Triendl
➤ Peter Bruns
➤ Hervé Joulain
➤ Cecilia Zilliacus, Johanna Persson & Kati Raitinen
Since 2013, he has served as artistic director of the Jakobstad Sinfonietta and the Rusk Chamber Music Festival.
Discography
His discography includes internationally acclaimed recordings of clarinet concertos by:
➤ Sebastian Fagerlund (Gothenburg Symphony)
➤ Aulis Sallinen
➤ Peter Eötvös
➤ Carl Nielsen (Finnish Radio Symphony)
Released on BIS Records and Alba Records, these recordings were all awarded the EMMA Prize.
Upcoming projects include:
➤ Ondine Records will release the clarinet concerto by Erkki-Sven Tüür as well as a violin–clarinet double concerto with Pekka Kuusisto and the Finnish Radio Symphony
➤ CPO Records will produce the complete recording of the four clarinet concertos by Louis Spohr with the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover
Awards and Teaching
Winner of the Crusell Clarinet Competition (2002) and the Juvenalia Chamber Music Competition, Christoffer has been principal clarinet of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra since 2005.
He also teaches clarinet at the prestigious Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
Education
Born in Stockholm, Christoffer grew up in Finland and began his musical studies at the Jakobstad Conservatory with Bernhard Nylund.
He graduated from the Sibelius Academy under the guidance of Anna-Maija Korsima, and continued his studies at the Basel Music Academy with François Benda.
His teachers also include:
➤ Hans Rudolf Stalder
➤ Guy Deplus
➤ Charles Neidich
➤ Several distinguished chamber musicians
