Eskil Hemberg

Hemberg studied at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm where he received a Music Teacher's degree in 1961, a higher cantor's degree in 1961, and a higher organist's degree in 1964. Together with Herbert Blomstedt he also conducted the orchestra at the Royal College of Music during this period.^{[citation needed]}

Hemberg became an executive producer for the Swedish Radio's choir, from 1963 until 1970.^[3] From 1970 to 1983 he was the planning manager and director of foreign relation at the National Institute of Concerts,^[4] and from 1984 to 1987 the general manager and artistic director of the Gothenburg Opera.^[5] During this period, he was also the director of the Stockholm University Chorus (1959–84).^[6][7] In 1968-78 Hemberg wrote Messa d'oggi, a choral piece with texts by Quasimodo and Dag Hammarskjöld. Furthermore, in 1970 he wrote a choreographic choral suite, which Hemberg described as "an opera in four acts" based on poems by Robert Graves.^[8][9]

Hemberg served as general manager and artistic director of the Royal Swedish Opera from 1987 until 1996.^[10] During his time he put up many notable performances including Ingmar Bergman directing The Bacchae by Daniel Börtz, in 1991.^[11][5]

Hemberg was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music since 1974, the chairman of the Swedish Society of Composers from 1971 until 1983, Vice President of STIM, as well as a board member from 1972 to 1983.^{[citation needed]} He was the president of the International Music Council of UNESCO, as well as chairman of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM),^[12] and in 2000 he was made The Bud Pearsson Distinguished Professor in Swedish Studies at the Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas, USA.^[13]

• 1974 – Member nr. 789 of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
• 1974 – Musical Society in Stockholm, stipend
• 1978 – Norrby Medal
• 1998 – Atterberg Prize
• 1997 – Culture stipend and prize from The Swedish–Finnish Cultural Foundation