David Björkman is one of Sweden’s most versatile and distinctive conductors, equally at home in the symphonic repertoire, the opera house and the creative intensity of a new production. A former concertmaster who made the transition to the podium, he brings the instincts of a chamber musician to his work: alertness, generosity and a keen sense of what allows an ensemble to breathe and communicate.
His repertoire now encompasses more than 500 works, ranging from Bach, Mozart and the great Romantic symphonists to contemporary opera, ballet and music theatre. He has conducted around 40 opera productions, appeared regularly with Sweden’s leading orchestras and worked extensively at the Royal Swedish Opera, Gothenburg Opera, Malmö Opera, Folkoperan and NorrlandsOperan. From 2016 to 2020, he was Chief Conductor of Livgardets dragonmusikkår, one of the Swedish Armed Forces’ three professional military ensembles. He has also been a frequent guest with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, including at the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm Concert Hall, and has conducted throughout the Nordic region as well as in Russia and Slovenia.
New music has been a central thread throughout Björkman’s career. He has given more than 70 world premieres, among them operas, ballets and orchestral works by composers including Sven-David Sandström, Sebastian Fagerlund, Britta Byström, Mats Larsson Gothe, Mikael Karlsson and Moto Osada. At Vadstena Academy he has conducted five world premieres, while his long collaboration with the Swedish-American composer Daniel Nelson has brought first performances of the operas Pride and Prejudice and Sova vaken, the ballet The Little Prince, and orchestral works including Urban-o-rama and Music for Beasts. He also conducted the world premiere of Osada’s Four Nights of Dream, a work that has since found an international life of its own.
Alongside his work as a conductor, Björkman is also active as a composer and arranger. His own music is centred on orchestral works, but also includes vocal music. He has also made a number of opera reductions that have been performed internationally. His commissioned works include pieces written for the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockholm Brass Quintet, Vadstena Academy and the Royal Orders of His Majesty the King. Forthcoming premieres include a new work with Ebba Lejonclou.
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In the 2026/27 season, David Björkman appears with several of Sweden’s leading musical institutions. He begins the year with the traditional Epiphany concerts at Wermland Opera, followed in February by Mats Larsson Gothe’s Körkarlen with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra. In the spring he conducts a new stage work by Mikael Karlsson with Skånes Dansteater and the Malmö Opera Orchestra, before returning to Dalasinfoniettan for its National Day concerts in June. The season also includes work on a new piece by Mats Larsson Gothe for the Royal Swedish Opera and, in autumn 2027, a tour with the Norrbotten Chamber Orchestra, with music by Martinů and Sibelius among the repertoire.
Born in 1973, David Björkman studied violin at the University of Gothenburg. His years as a violinist in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, followed by a position as concertmaster at NorrlandsOperan, gave him the opportunity to observe major conductors from within the orchestra. In 1999 he turned decisively to conducting, studying at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm with Jorma Panula. During those formative years he also received generous support and mentorship from Esa-Pekka Salonen and, in New York, from Sixten Ehrling.
His recordings include releases for Naxos, Daphne, Orchid and the Swedish Society label, with orchestras such as Odense Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Opera Orchestra and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
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Updated September 2026
