About
Joachim Saxenborn is a Swedish conductor, concert-, and opera singer, composer, and vocal teacher with an international profile, educated at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
Joachim Saxenborn is a Swedish conductor, concert and opera singer, composer, and vocal teacher with an international profile. He studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and is known for his artistic versatility—equally at home on the concert stage and within avant-garde musical theatre.
Saxenborn is the founder of Saxenborn Singers, a choir devoted to twentieth-century and contemporary repertoire. Since its founding, the ensemble has premiered major works by acclaimed composers including Stefan Klaverdal and Johan-Magnus Sjöberg. In 2022, he founded Ensemble Voyage, focusing on new a cappella music. In autumn 2025, he will premiere Project 100, a chamber orchestra exploring a repertoire that bridges Baroque elegance to contemporary expression.
He has performed at international festivals including Performatik Festival (Belgium), Festival Csillags Zene (Hungary), Gracelands Festival (Ireland), and Lund International Choral Festival (Sweden). Saxenborn has also appeared at events hosted by Swedish embassies and chambers of commerce in the Netherlands and Hungary.
His collaboration with visual artist Ulla von Brandenburg has resulted in major theatre productions across Europe. He leads a highly recognized choral education program in his country and has conducted numerous workshops for young aspiring conductors. He is a co-author of the book The Singing City.
Saxenborn possesses a versatile lyrical baritone and is particularly noted for his interpretations of the German lieder repertoire. He also performs opera with great passion, especially in contemporary music theatre. On the lied stage, he has appeared at festivals such as Festival Alfonso Ortiz Tirado (Mexico), Wiener Festwochen, and Musikfest der Europäischen Union (Austria), as well as at several Swedish festivals including Frödingdagarna, Lindhagafestivalen, Margaretadagarna, Mikaelifesten, and Musik på Berga.
He premiered the chamber opera Beredskapsarbetaren by Jonatan Sersam at Opera Alltet and the sacred opera Katharina och Martin by Johan-Magnus Sjöberg, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Earlier notable operatic roles include L'incoronazione di Poppea by Claudio Monteverdi at the Schlosstheater Schönbrunn (Austria), and Osiris by J. G. Naumann, performed in Sweden and Denmark in collaboration with Malmö Lyric Ensemble. Saxenborn has also given several benefit concerts in Mexico, including Broadway Again and Arts for Little Hearts.
He was a finalist and received a public prize at the 12th International Nico Dostal Competition (Austria).
Saxenborn has composed and arranged numerous works for choirs of all levels. He composed the scores for the contemporary art films Chorspiel and Baisse-toi montagne, lève-toi vallon by Ulla von Brandenburg, as well as for the performance work Waheide – how do you pronounce your name? by Maria Lepistö.
His works have been exhibited or performed at festivals and venues including Performa 07 (USA), Gracelands Festival (Ireland), Performatik Festival (Belgium), Atlas Museum (Belgium), Pilar Corrias Gallery and The Common Guild (UK), the Contemporary Art Centre (Latvia), and Lilith Performance Studio (Sweden).
Saxenborn is a passionate and dedicated teacher with over two decades of experience. He coaches singers and leads workshops and masterclasses, frequently collaborating with speech therapist and voice researcher Professor Viveka Lyberg Åhlander. Since 2024, he has been contributing his expertise to a distinguished research team studying older adult voices.
June 2025
Saxenborn is the founder of Saxenborn Singers, a choir devoted to twentieth-century and contemporary repertoire. Since its founding, the ensemble has premiered major works by acclaimed composers including Stefan Klaverdal and Johan-Magnus Sjöberg. In 2022, he founded Ensemble Voyage, focusing on new a cappella music. In autumn 2025, he will premiere Project 100, a chamber orchestra exploring a repertoire that bridges Baroque elegance to contemporary expression.
He has performed at international festivals including Performatik Festival (Belgium), Festival Csillags Zene (Hungary), Gracelands Festival (Ireland), and Lund International Choral Festival (Sweden). Saxenborn has also appeared at events hosted by Swedish embassies and chambers of commerce in the Netherlands and Hungary.
His collaboration with visual artist Ulla von Brandenburg has resulted in major theatre productions across Europe. He leads a highly recognized choral education program in his country and has conducted numerous workshops for young aspiring conductors. He is a co-author of the book The Singing City.
Saxenborn possesses a versatile lyrical baritone and is particularly noted for his interpretations of the German lieder repertoire. He also performs opera with great passion, especially in contemporary music theatre. On the lied stage, he has appeared at festivals such as Festival Alfonso Ortiz Tirado (Mexico), Wiener Festwochen, and Musikfest der Europäischen Union (Austria), as well as at several Swedish festivals including Frödingdagarna, Lindhagafestivalen, Margaretadagarna, Mikaelifesten, and Musik på Berga.
He premiered the chamber opera Beredskapsarbetaren by Jonatan Sersam at Opera Alltet and the sacred opera Katharina och Martin by Johan-Magnus Sjöberg, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Earlier notable operatic roles include L'incoronazione di Poppea by Claudio Monteverdi at the Schlosstheater Schönbrunn (Austria), and Osiris by J. G. Naumann, performed in Sweden and Denmark in collaboration with Malmö Lyric Ensemble. Saxenborn has also given several benefit concerts in Mexico, including Broadway Again and Arts for Little Hearts.
He was a finalist and received a public prize at the 12th International Nico Dostal Competition (Austria).
Saxenborn has composed and arranged numerous works for choirs of all levels. He composed the scores for the contemporary art films Chorspiel and Baisse-toi montagne, lève-toi vallon by Ulla von Brandenburg, as well as for the performance work Waheide – how do you pronounce your name? by Maria Lepistö.
His works have been exhibited or performed at festivals and venues including Performa 07 (USA), Gracelands Festival (Ireland), Performatik Festival (Belgium), Atlas Museum (Belgium), Pilar Corrias Gallery and The Common Guild (UK), the Contemporary Art Centre (Latvia), and Lilith Performance Studio (Sweden).
Saxenborn is a passionate and dedicated teacher with over two decades of experience. He coaches singers and leads workshops and masterclasses, frequently collaborating with speech therapist and voice researcher Professor Viveka Lyberg Åhlander. Since 2024, he has been contributing his expertise to a distinguished research team studying older adult voices.
June 2025