Are you interested in singing in a choir at the highest level with Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra? Do you want to sing the major works for choir and orchestra of the world’s leading conductors and soloists? Do you want to develop your singing vocally and musically?
Read more about the choir at: koren.se
A non-profit organization
Gothenburg Symphony Choir is a non-profit organization that is tied to the Gothenburg Concert House and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. The choir participates in concerts and performances in the Concert Hall as well as occasionally performing outside the house in its own capacity. Their repertoire is therefore both extensive and varied.
The choir rehearses every Tuesday evening under the guidance of chorus director Katie Thomas and accompanist Juan Zurutuza, pianist in the Gothenburg Symphony. During concert weeks, the choir works in the evenings with the conductor and orchestra, usually giving two concert performances in culmination.
Throughout the season, all members receive bespoke one-to-one vocal technique sessions with in-house voice coaches and members of GSVE, Mia Strand and Simon Bergvide. Alongside Katie Thomas (who is also the Vocal Coach of the BBC Symphony Chorus in London), they form a unique vocal team sharing a unified strategy and responsibility to develop every individual in the choir, and the choir as a whole. Good vocal health and authentic, efficient, tension-free singing is placed at the heart of the choir’s approach.
The choir has performed in venues abroad including the Royal Albert Hall and Canterbury Cathedral in England, in the Canary Islands, and in China on tour with the GSO.
To the choirs website
Christmas Celebration
Christmas begins at Gothenburg Concert Hall! The Gothenburg Symphony brass ensemble, choir and soloists present dazzling music for a winter evening together with Peter Apelgren and Anna Mannheimer.
Family concert: Children’s Christmas Celebration
A cosy, starlit evening of the most beautiful Christmas music! Bring the whole family for a festive concert featuring the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra’s brass ensemble, choirs and soloists.
Concert booked by Volvo: Christmas Celebration
Christmas begins at Gothenburg Concert Hall! Hear new and old Christmas carols, and don’t be surprised if we all get to join in to sing some songs together. The Gothenburg Symphony brass ensemble, choir and soloists present dazzling music for a winter evening.
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra plays in Vara Konserthus
The brass ensemble of Gothenburg Symphony, choir and soloists plays a Christmas Celebration concert in Vara Konserthus.
Rachmaninoff The Bells
Close your eyes and imagine the horse-drawn sleigh and torches arriving amidst swirling snow in Rachmaninoff’s The Bells. With the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, conductor Nicholas Collon, choirs and vocal soloists.
The White Book
In this unique world premiere, we hear Laura Bowler’s composition inspired by The White Book by Nobel Prize-winner Han Kang. The work was commissioned for Principal Guest Conductor Barbara Hannigan, who also sings at this performance. With the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and choir.
God in Disguise
Join us in a visit to heaven on earth! Tomas von Brömssen narrates the story of Lars-Erik Larsson’s Swedish classic, performed by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, choir and vocal soloists.
Classical AW with Bach
Join Gothenburg’s most classic after work! Hear music by J.S. Bach and Britten in a breathtaking performance by tenor Andrew Staples, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and choir. The evening continues in the foyer bars after the concert.
National Day Concert 2026
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, choir, conductor Tobias Ringborg and guests plays in beautiful Slottsskogen. A tradition that brings together tens of thousands and becomes a moment for relaxation, community and singing.
How it started
The Gothenburg Symphony Choir was founded in 1917 by cousins Elsa and Wilhelm Stenhammar. Elsa Stenhammar was one of the driving forces of the turn of the century choral life in Gothenburg, and became the choir’s first leader.
Wilhelm Stenhammar had created a position in the Gothenburg music scene through his work with the orchestra for a number of years. On December 8, 1917 the chorus debuted in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. It was Wilhelm Stenhammar who took on the solo part at the piano.
They sing in the choir
The youngest members are around 20, while the oldest has passed retirement age. Some choir members have extensive musical training, while others have merely private singing lessons for extended periods.
One thing, however, all choir members have in common: a massive experience of choir singing. Many have started in church choirs, student and university choirs and other vocal contexts to eventually join a large symphonic choir. In addition, all has passed the mandatory audition estimates that recur every three years.
Choir Director
