Adolf Fredrik's Music School (Swedish: Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser) is a general municipaljunior high school (Swedish: grundskola) in Stockholm, Sweden with a focus on choral music, and highly competitive admission based on audition in singing and musical ability. The school has two campuses and three youth choirs of high international standard. Many professional musicians are alumni.[1][2][3]
Adolf Fredrik's Youth Choir is part of the Adolf Fredrik Church and has only its name in common with the school. Adolf Fredriks Madrigalkör used to be associated with the church, but is now independent from both the church and the school.
History
Founding
The school was founded in 1939 on the initiative of Hugo Hammarström (1891–1974) and offered the first music classes in Sweden, based on models such as King's College, Cambridge England, Die Städtische Singschule,[a]Augsburg, Germany, and the Copenhagen Boys Choir in Denmark.[4] The purpose was to give musically inclined pupils additional training in singing, sight-reading, choral singing and more. Hammarström continued his work at the music school until 1957.[5]
The AF fight
In 1982–83, the school was the focus of a heated controversy, AF-striden (literally The AF fight), between those who felt that special classes of any kind and Adolf Fredrik's Music School in particular represent an "elitist" approach, and those who felt that all students have a right to develop their abilities as far as possible. One factor that inflamed the battle was a study of similar music classes in Norrköping, where it could be shown that the pupils' parents mostly, but not exclusively, had high status occupations. The Swedish Nobel Prize laureate, sociologist and politician Alva Myrdal took a strong stance on the issue in an interview in Svenska Dagbladet by Mats Johansson on 14 July 1983.[6]
On 17 September 1983, she published a letter in the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter where she explained that the goal of the Swedish school system, equal schooling to all, means that all pupils should be encouraged to develop their abilities. She also warned against repression of special abilities under the guise of elitism. This effectively ended the controversy.[7]
Name and location
The name of the school has changed several times and the premises have also changed. Stockholms musikklasser (Stockholm's music classes) is still used to describe the same school, and before 1960 the school was called Stockholm's singing classes. Adolf Fredrik is the name of the Swedish King who lived 1710–1771. The school has mostly been housed in the present city campus location, but periodically there have also been branch operations in Mariaskolan, Eriksdalsskolan, Vasa Real and finally the Swedish National Defence College's old premises at Valhallavägen.
Second campus
On 13 December 2013, it was announced by the municipal school authorities in Stockholm that because of the extreme popularity and low admissions rate of the existing Adolf Fredrik's Music School a second Music School campus with the same orientation would open in 2015.[8]
The new campus opened in the fall of 2015.[9]
Buildings
City campus
On the site of the present buildings, roughly at the intersection Dalagatan/Rådmansgatan, a windmill called Nya Rörstrandskvarnen and nicknamed Stora Tisan was constructed sometime between 1747 and 1751. The windmill was in use until the 1880s when it was moved elsewhere.[10]
The main building of the City campus with street address Tegnérgatan 44–46 in Stockholm has housed various school forms over the years. From 1939 Stockholm's music classes has concentrated the major part of its activities to the building that is presently named Adolf Fredrik's Music School, a name that may thus refer both to the institution with two campuses and to the City campus building. The main building was erected in 1907–10 as a folkskola (people's school), originally for a capacity of 2,360 pupils, based on drawings by architect Georg A. Nilsson.[11][b]
The main building (see the first photo) is the base of Stockholms musikklasser (Stockholm's music classes) that was previously housed in other buildings, and the two names are used without distinction in daily conversation.
There is also a smaller building (see the second photo) on the same site, built 1907–10, architect Hagström & Ekman. This building formerly housed Åhlinska skolan and is now used for younger children without a specific music curriculum.[12]
Farsta campus
The Farsta campus with street address Farstavägen 118 in Farsta, a district of Farsta borough south of Stockholm, has had different names over the years. The white building, designed by architect Lennart Brundin, was finished in 1963 and was originally named Farsta läroverk (English: Farsta grammar school). The name was changed to Farsta gymnasium (English: Farsta high school) in 1967. From 2015 the name is Farsta grundskola (English: Farsta primary school).[13][14]
The buildings will be renovated at a cost of about SEK 150 million, with work to be finished in the fall of 2017. The main lecture hall will also function as a concert hall with 500 seats. In contrast with the City campus the Farsta campus will have music classes mixed with normal classes in grades 0-9. When at full capacity in 2019 the campus will house a total of 1,160 students whereof 360 in music classes.[9][14]
Academics
Adolf Fredrik's Music School is a niche school, with heavy emphasis on music and choral singing, but without sacrificing academic rigor in other subjects.[15]
Admission to the school is based on audition in singing and musical ability before starting fourth grade, and admission is competitive with an acceptance rate of around 15%.[c][16]
240 students are admitted annually, 180 for the City campus and 60 and for the Farsta campus, and attend the school from 4th to 9th grade.[d]
Two-thirds of the admitted students are girls.[17]
Over 1,000 students attend the City campus and when fully established the Farsta campus will have over 350 students. For the academic year 2013–2014 the school ranked number seven in Sweden for junior high school grade point average.[18]
Each student belongs to a class-choir consisting of 30 to 60 students. Practices are held almost every school day, and each class-choir has a substantial concert program schedule (at churches and auditoriums and other venues). Additionally, the school has three official choirs, which represent the school in concerts and competitions: Adolf Fredrik's Girls Choir, Boys Choir, and the mixed Chamber Choir. Membership in the official 3 choirs is based on auditions, held amongst the school's students.
Students at the school will have sung in class choirs (often a cappella) for 1200 hours by the time they graduate at age 16. (Those who participate in one of the school's competitive representation choirs and continue to a high school which also has emphasis in music, may accumulate 2000 hours of singing before university.) This training takes place during the students' most formative years.
After graduating from the school, some students continue on to one of three high schools in Stockholm with heavy emphasis on music: Kungsholmens Musikgymnasium with mixed academic/choral singing emphasis, Södra Latin with mixed academic/individual musicianship emphasis, or Lilla Akademien with a heavy emhasis on fostering future professional musicians.[citation needed]
Cooperation
In 1959 Stockholms Musikgymnasium (Stockholm's Music High School) for 10th through 12th grade started its activity in Adolf Fredrik's Music School. In 1984 it moved to Kungsholmens gymnasium. Collaboration between the two schools continues and is manifested in annual concerts in the Globen arena, Strawberry Arena or other suitable venues with high spectator capacity.[19]
Students from Adolf Fredrik's Music School regularly participate in opera performances at the Royal Swedish Opera, such as when children's voices are required in operas like Bizet'sCarmen.[20] Grammophone recordings featuring Adolf Fredrik's Music School choirs have been nominated for the Grammis Award (the Swedish equivalent to the Grammy Award in 1990, 2009 and 2013.[21] The web pages of Adolf Fredrik's Girls and Adolf Fredrik's Boys Choir list 16 and 4 cd disc recordings respectively.[22][23]
Choral Festivals – Let the Future Sing
In 2009 the Music School celebrated its 70th anniversary by hosting a children and youth choral festival, Adolf Fredrik Choral Festival, with participating choirs from several countries.[24] The festival, also known as Let the Future Sing, was held again in 2012 with around 300 singers from Armenia, Estonia, Canada, China, USA and South Africa as well as around 1,000 Swedish singers.[f] The third festival was held in 2015 with a total of 1,400 young choral singers, including choirs from Bulgaria, Finland, the Philippines, Russia, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.[g]
Parental involvement
Parents are very important for the school's continued success. First, there is for all practical purposes mandatory parent participation in class based working groups for concerts, class excursions and other tasks. Parents of each class are assigned to one of six groups for one year at a time, so that by the time the student finishes his or her studies each parent has participated in each of the six working groups.
Second, the Parent Teacher Organization (AFFF – Adolf Fredriks Föräldraförening) is very active in different ways to promote the school and enhance its academic and musical curriculum. During the AF fight referred to above AFFF played a very important lobbying role (see external links).
Third, Föreningen Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser (English: the Adolf Fredrik's Music School Association) works to promote child and youth choirs locally, nationally and internationally (see external links).
Student government
The student body is represented by the Adolf Fredrik's Music School Student council (Swedish: elevråd), that serves the student body by promoting extracurricular activities and by providing a voice to the student body in all discussion of school policy with the administration. The Student council applies voluntary membership, is student-driven, democratic, and has equal voting rights for all members. It consists of Class councils, Team councils and a Council board.[25]
The Team councils are each headed by a President aided by a Secretary, elected at the first meeting of the new school year. When Team councils meet every other Tuesday a teacher from the team also participates. Every President of a Team council is also a member of the Council Board, that elects a Chairman and a Secretary. The Council Board meets every week in the Principal's office.[25]
Reputation
A choir from the school won the BBC's "Let the people sing" choir competition and in 2001, and became a Choir of the European Federation and Cultural Ambassador".[1] The school is mentioned as one of the building blocks of The Swedish Choral Miracle.[3]Singers.com called the school "a distinguished institution of music well known throughout the world"[26] and the Barbershop Harmony Society called it "the most renowned choir school in Sweden".[27]Discogs said the school is "one of the most internationally recognized children's and youth choirs throughout the world."[1]
Wider influence
The Swedish Choral Miracle
The school was the first Music School of its kind in Sweden and has inspired scores of similar schools around the country, forming one of the building blocks of The Swedish Choral Miracle (the term is a well-known expression in the world of choral music, ever since the book with the same name by Richard Sparks was published).[3] Though Adolf Fredrik's Music School was the first of its kind, its success had by 2008 led to the creation of classes with a focus on choral singing or instrumental music in addition to the normal academic curriculum in 70 schools around Sweden.[4] At least 5% of the Swedish population are members of and sing in choirs weekly.[3][28]
In 1999 Per-Åke Byström and Bo Johansson published the Swedish language book Tidernas körklang : en bok om Adolf Fredriks musikklasser, Stockholms musikgymnasium och mycket annat about the choral sound and tradition of Adolf Fredrik's Music School and Stockholms Musikgymnasium.[29]
Barbershop
Barbershop is a special case. There were as of 2013 only 8 male choruses, some 20 quartets and in total approximately 250 individuals throughout the Nordic countries combined who sing barbershop in a reasonably organized manner (i.e., belonging to a barbershop organization).[30] The barbershop quartet Ringmasters became the first ever non-US International Champions in 2012, while Swedish barbershop quartets have become International Collegiate Quartet Champions in 2008, 2010 and 2012.[31] The members of these championship winning groups have their musical roots in Adolf Fredrik's Music School and Kungsholmens Musikgymnasium.[32][33]
In 1989 Growing Girls from Stockholm suburb Rönninge was the first non-US female quartet to become Sweet Adelines International champions (called "Queens of Harmony"); all the quartet members attended Adolf Fredrik's Music School.[34]
Headmasters
City campus
1963–1980 Stig Gunnarskog
1980–1984 Ove Wergens
1984–1988 Stig Rosén
1989–1996 Britt Wennerfors
1996–2002 Hans-Erik Rudin
2003–2004 Christina Thunberg
2004–Lars-Göran Jacobsson
Farsta campus
2015–2016 Wolfgang Johansson
2016–Petter Carlsson (acting)
Discography
The school choirs have made a number of recordings that are listed in the appropriate Wikipedia articles. Recordings that are attributed to the school as a whole include:
Barn Från Adolf Fredriks Musikskola, Ivan Renlidens Orkester – De Mest Älskade Barnvisorna Av Alice Tegnér (Cass, Album). 1970. Odeon, EMI 4E 254-34154, EMI 711
Sjung Av Hela Hjärtat (CD, Album). 1996. Hjärtebarnsföreningen 1996-1
Sånger Ur Majas Alfabet (CD, Album). 2008. Naxos 8.570732
Alumni
Alphabetically and grouped by primary professional role. Only alumni with separate English language Wikipedia articles are included. Many alumni continue to sing choral music, or otherwise stay involved in musical endeavours, non-professionally.
^ abYvonne Palm Lebel (2008). "Music classes in Sweden"(PDF). Bachelor thesis at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2014-01-13. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^ abLars Andersson (5 October 2015). "AF i Farsta hösten 2015" (in Swedish). Stockholms stad (City of Stockholm). Archived from the original on 2015-10-10. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Björn Finn. "Georg A Nilsson" (in Swedish). Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (English: Dictionary of Swedish National Biography). urn:sbl:8946. Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^"Åhlinska skolan" (in Swedish). Stockholms stadsarkiv (English: Stockholm City Archive). Archived from the original on 2014-07-27. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Rönnbäck, Erik Paulsson (2013-06-07). "Skolvalet: Adolf Fredriks musikklasser". Svenska Dagbladet. Svenska Dagbladet (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2015-06-15. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^"Träna inför musiklassernas prov". Opus Norden AB (Swedish record-company and artist-agency, with a focus on Nordic music). Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^"Svenske musikklasser"(PDF). Danish Ministry of Culture. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Mikael Delin (2014-09-30). "Här finns skolorna med högst betygssnitt". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^"Ringmasters". Barbership Harmony Society. July–August 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Kia Hedell. "Klang i kör". STM-Online vol. 12 (2009) (English: Swedish Society for Music Research). Archived from the original on 2014-01-12. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Per-Åke Byström; Bo Johansson, eds. (1999). Tidernas körklang: en bok om Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser, Stockholms Musikgymnasium och mycket annat. Stockholm: Adolf Fredriks musikklasser, Stockholms musikgymnasium, cop.
^ abc"EMD släpper julskiva på svenska" (in Swedish). Noizegate Music (Swedish music magazine). 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 2014-12-08. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Kristoffer Triumf (14 June 2015). "#180: Love Antell" (in Swedish). Acast. Archived from the original on 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
^Gunilla Backman. "Biography". Gunilla Backman's web page. Archived from the original on 2015-02-14. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Åsa Görnerup Faith-Ell (13 February 2012). "Debutant utan nerver" (in Swedish). Mitt i Stockholm (Local Stockholm newspaper). Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Monica Frime (10 September 2004). "Födelsedagsprofilen" (in Swedish). Kristianstadsbladet (Local Stockholm newspaper). Archived from the original on 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Eyal Sharon Krafft/TT Spektra (7 July 2010). "Mitt liv är tusen gånger rikare" (in Swedish). Helsingborgs Dagblad (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Monica Frime (31 March 2004). "Annika Ljungberg 35 år" (in Swedish). Helsingborgs Dagblad (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2015-06-15. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
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^Åsa Frögren (13 May 2009). "Hemma sjunger vi jämt" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2015-04-22. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Lania Sitepu (17 February 2012). "Molly Sandén vågade löfte" (in Swedish). SVT (Swedish public television). Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Erik Helmerson (9 December 2010). ""Stjärnorna" utan bråk" (in Swedish). Folkbladet (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2014-12-07. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Mia Bornberger Wibacke (8 February 2013). "Blossom i nya hemmet i Sundbyberg" (in Swedish). Magasin Sundbyberg (Swedish local news magazine). Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^"Pernilla Wahlgren" (in Swedish). Proartist (Artist agent). Archived from the original on 2014-12-07. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Tony Lundman (28 June 2002). "Oförglömlig Lulu ger Avemo operapriset". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Svenska Dagbladet (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2015-01-11. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Anna-Maria Wiklund (28 April 2010). "Mahlers syn på liv och död" (in Swedish). Sundsvalls Tidning (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2014-12-07. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Agneta Lagercrantz (16 June 2013). "Jag älskar att korsa enkelhet med kultur". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Svenska Dagbladet (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2015-01-26. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Clas Barkman (16 July 2006). "Sopranen som misstror det perfekta". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Cecilia Ekebjär (24 August 2014). "Stjärnmöte i Ovanmyra" (in Swedish). Dalarnas Tidningar (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2014-12-10. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Ashley Wyman (7 November 2014). "Björn Andresen". Ashley Wyman Online. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^ abStefan Westrin (10 October 2014). "Lars Erik Brännström" (in Swedish). Fokus (Swedish weekly news magazine). Archived from the original on 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Louise Kristoffersson (21 October 2008). "Kåre bland vampyrerna"(PDF) (in Swedish). Mitt i Stockholm (Swedish weekly local newspaper). Archived(PDF) from the original on 2014-12-07. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^"Elin Klinga" (in Swedish). Ingmar Bergman Foundation. Archived from the original on 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Cecilia Nilsson. "Cecilia Nilsson" (in Swedish). LinkedIn. Retrieved 2015-01-20.
^Elisabeth Lindham (26 September 1999). "Jag vill bli större än Julia Roberts" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2014-12-08. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^
Anna Kågström (12 June 2013). "Riedel vs Riedel" (in Swedish). Lärarnas Nyheter (Swedish magazine for teachers). Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
^Jonas Wallmark (14 December 2012). "Robert Wells om uppväxten i Huvudsta" (in Swedish). Magasin Solna (Swedish local weekly newspaper). Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^
Tina Ahlin. "Curriculum Vitae" (in Swedish). Tina Ahlin's web page. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Bo Löfvendahl (18 August 2014). "Detaljerna är lite av min specialitet". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Svenska Dagbladet (Swedish daily newspaper). Archived from the original on 2014-09-01. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
^Gunilla Bergman (18 November 2012). "Säsongens bästa konsert!" (in Swedish). Gunilla Bergman's blog. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2016-05-08.