The Conductor

Rydinger Alin studied church music before completing her conducting education at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm between 1981 and 1991. In 1988, she became conductor of the acclaimed mixed choir Allmänna Sången, a position she held for 21 years.

In 1991, she won the Royal Swedish Opera’s prestigious Conducting Competition, leading to engagements with the Royal Swedish Opera, Folkoperan, Göteborg Opera, NorrlandsOperan, and several other leading institutions. Between 1994 and 1998, she served as Chief Conductor of Musikteatern i Värmland (now Wermland Opera).

Passion, energy, precision, inspiration, presence, and artistic intensity are all qualities frequently associated with Cecilia Rydinger Alin. As one concertgoer memorably remarked:

Even her back radiates magic!

OD’s artistic vision is built on Tradition and Renewal—a balance that Cecilia Rydinger Alin is passionate about preserving.

– “I want to preserve and nurture the existing repertoire for male choir, as well as the rich choral sound that has been cultivated within OD for generations. The ability to move from the softest imaginable pianissimo to overwhelming power, combined with such density and intensity of sound, is something you otherwise encounter only in the great symphony orchestras. OD is undoubtedly one of the finest male choirs in the world, and it is tremendously inspiring to work with the ensemble.”

At the same time, she believes the choir must continue to evolve.

– “Our challenge is to stand firmly on the foundation of tradition while always placing quality first—and at the same time discovering new forms of expression and new concert experiences. We do this through collaborations with artists and musicians from many musical genres, by performing in unexpected venues, and by daring to commission new music, experiment with new concert formats, and surprise our audiences. That is how we continue to reach new listeners.”

Awards and Honours

1999 – Johannes Norrby Medal for outstanding contributions to Swedish choral music
2001 – Sten Frykberg Memorial Scholarship for Conductors
2005 – Litteris et Artibus, awarded by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf for distinguished contributions to the arts
2009 – Swedish Choral Conductor of the Year
2011 – Dalarna County Cultural Award
2011 – Honorary Citizen of Uppland

Watch and Listen to OD

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Orphei Drängar's conductor?

Cecilia Rydinger is OD’s Chief Conductor and Artistic Director. She is the ninth conductor in the choir’s history since its founding in 1853.

What does the conductor do?

The conductor is the choir’s artistic leader, responsible for selecting the repertoire, shaping the musical interpretation, leading rehearsals, and directing performances. It is the conductor who brings 115 individual voices together into one unified artistic expression.

How is OD's conductor chosen?

The conductor is elected by the choir. It is a long-term appointment—over more than 170 years, OD has had only nine conductors.

Does the conductor sing with the choir?

No. The conductor serves as the choir’s artistic leader and does not sing during performances. Instead, the role is to shape, inspire, and guide the choir’s unique sound.

What has been the conductor's most unexpected collaboration with OD?

Among OD’s many notable collaborations under Cecilia Rydinger are performances with artists as diverse as Mustasch, Peter Mattei, Tommy Körberg, Ola Salo, Petra Mede, and Henrik Dorsin. At the 2014 Swedish Grammis Awards, OD performed a special arrangement of “The Dragonborn Comes” from the video game Skyrim under her direction.