2018 Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art
Ragnar Bohlin
Ragnar Bohlin brings the global flair of a Renaissance man to the podium. Trained at the Royal Academy of Music in his native Sweden, Bohlin has studied piano in London; served as choirmaster of one of Stockholm’s oldest churches; and guest conducted symphony orchestras in São Paulo, Edmonton, California, and all over Scandinavia. But at the heart of Ragnar Bohlin’s career is a dedication to the advancement of the professional chorus.
In 2007, Bohlin became the director of the celebrated San Francisco Symphony Chorus. He quickly added to the group’s accolades with three 2010 Grammy Awards for the Symphony’s recording of Mahler’s 8th Symphony, including Best Choral Performance. He has guest directed, toured, and recorded with some of the world’s finest vocal ensembles, including the Swedish Radio Choir, the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, the BBC Singers, Chanticleer, and more.
Bohlin realized a dream in 2014 when he founded his own professional chamber choir, Cappella SF, in the Bay Area. As Cappella SF has established itself, he has been a driving force in propelling the group to impressive heights in just a few short years. The chorus has championed new music from living composers, establishing a composer-in-residence program with David Conte, and premiering 10 new works to date. Three albums have already been released, with plans for a fourth in the works. And while Cappella SF is still a modest financial operation, Bohlin has prioritized singer compensation above all else from the beginning.
A devoted teacher, Bohlin also serves on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and has engaged area youth choruses in several collaborations with Cappella SF. We honor the charisma, initiative, and elegant professionalism of Ragnar Bohlin with the 2018 Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art.
