Linköpings studentsångare

(Sw. Linköpings Studentsångare, former Linköpings Studentsångarförening Lihkören) was founded in 1972. The choir has since then developed both musically and organizationally, and it is today regarded as one of the best male voice choirs in Sweden. The singers are recruited both from the university faculties and outside the university to keep the musical quality at highest possible level. Today, the choir consists of approximately 60 singers, properly dressed in tails. 

In addition to the Nordic countries, they have also toured in the United Kingdom, Spain, Croatia, the United States, Jordan, South Africa, Macedonia and Wales. In 1987, the choir took the initiative for the first Nordic Student Singer Summit (NSSS) in modern times, which created a tradition with Nordic student choirs meeting every three years since then. At the Ohrid Choir festival in 2013, the choir was named best choir and received a special diploma for performing Bob Chilcott's Newton's Amazing Grace. In 2016, the choir created a composition competition for female composers who compose for male choirs, which is held every four years.

The conductor

Christina Hörnell, born 17th of March 1964 in Botkyrka, holds the position of Director musices at Linköpings University. As the Director musices, she is responsible for the musical activities that the University is hosting as well as the music at the university’s ceremonies and major events. Christina Hörnell is also the conductor of Linköpings Studentsångare and Östgöta Kammarkör. She has previously been conductor and Director of arts for Kongl. Teknologkören in Stockholm 1989-1994 and Akademiska Kören in Stockholm 1991-2007. She was choirmaster at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm 1994-2013 and choirmaster at Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra 2010-2014, The Swedish National Orchestra, where she also conducted the Symphonic Choir.

Hörnell took her exam as a church musician and received a diploma in conducting, with Eric Ericson as her teacher, at the Royal academy of music in Stockholm. Christina Hörnell has worked as a teacher, teaching conducting and church music in Sweden as well as outside the country and she has worked with ensembles such as Radiokören and Eric Ericsons Kammarkör. In 2005 she worked as assisting choirmaster at the Richard Wagner Bayreuther Festspiele. In 1994 she was awarded the Norrby medallion and in 2014 H.M. The King’s medal of the 8th size with bright-blue ribbon for her service at the Royal Opera.

History

Linköping University Male Voice Choir was formed in 1972 under the name Lihkören by enthusiastic students at the then Linköping College (Sw. Linköpings Högskola - hence the name LiHkören which translates to the LiH choir. It is also a pun on the Swedish word for Liquor which is Likör). The new name Linköpings Studentsångare was adopted in 2011 to be more closely linked to the Swedish male voice choir tradition. Over the years, the choir has developed, both musically and organizationally. Since the mid-eighties, the choir is considered one of Sweden's best male voice choirs. Today, singers are recruited from all the university's faculties and also outside the university's framework - all to maintain the highest possible musical quality.