Pontus Björk

Meet the Musicians

I’m pretty much a nomad, but I’d say Stensele/Storuman is the place I’d call home. My family moved there when I was about to start preschool, and I spent my entire elementary school years there. Other than that, I’ve studied in Skellefteå, Piteå, and Stockholm.

My first year with the Umeå Symphony Orchestra—as it was called back then—was in 1993. During my years in Stockholm, I felt a strong longing to return home, up north, and I was drawn to Umeå and the Norrlands Opera. It also turned out that the orchestra and the opera house were a fantastic place to work. I’ve worked at the Norrlands Opera my entire professional life, except for two years in Malmö at the Malmö Music Theater.

I’ve been playing the violin since I was 8 years old. I’ve also played a little French horn and sung quite a bit. The best thing about the job—aside from my colleagues—is the concert experience and the sense of satisfaction you get when you’ve overcome a challenge.