S:t Jacobs Vocal Ensemble (former S:t Jacobs Ungdomskör) is a mixed choir consisting of ca 40 members. Founded in the autumn of 2007 as a youth choir, the choir was part of a project within the City of Stockholm called “Storstadsprojektet” (eg. ”The Cosmopol Project”), organized by the parish of the cathedral of Stockholm. The aim of the project was to spread choral singing among youth singers; and the choir made its debut concert on November 17th that same year. Since then, and still today, the choir is conducted by Mikael Wedar.
The majority of concerts and activities of SJVE are held in S:t Jacobs kyrka and in Storkyrkan. We rehearse on Mondays, participate in church services several times a year, hold concerts in our own right and together with other musicians. We aim to give our audience special and diverse performances that stretches beyond the immediate impression, but resonates long after the doors close behind you.
S:t Jacobs Vokalensemble are blessed with several international successes – the Slovakia Cantat held in Bratislava, Slovakia (2010) were we received the Grand Prix of the festival, among other recognitions. In the autumns of 2012 and 2016, we competed in the very honorable International Harald Andersén Chamber Choir Competition, which is held every three years in Helsinki, Finland. We managed to attain the Third price on both occasions! In November of 2013 we took part in Concurso Coral de Tolosa in Basque Country, Spain. Out of five possible awards, we AMAZINGLY won all of them and thus qualified for the European Grand Prix in Debrecen, Hungary 2014. That spring in Hungary: we took the gold. That took us the the prestigious 50-year jubilee of the Tolosako Abesbatza Lehiaketa where SVJE got the second place.
When we’re not in competition, we aim to participate around the globe in different singing contexts, such as festivals, tours and educational programs. These arrangements has thus far taken us to places like Hongkong, France, Germany and Russia.