Biography

Peter Pontvik’s artistic contribution encompasses a blend of musical creativity, leadership, and performance.

Born in Copenhagen in 1963, Peter Pontvik moved to South America as a child but established himself in Stockholm in 1987. He studied composition, choir conducting and musicology in Uruguay (National Conservatory, Montevideo), Sweden (Sven-David Sandström, Royal College of Music, Stockholm) and Germany (Wolfgang Rihm, Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Karlsruhe).

Pontvik’s interest and research in Latin American baroque music and early repertoire in the Nordic region, led him to musicological projects in Ecuador and Bolivia and to the founding of Swedish Ensemble Villancico, in 1995. Conducting the ensemble he toured in Europe and Latin America, performing several hundred concerts in more than 30 countries and has recorded 10 albums with the group.

In 2002, Pontvik founded the Stockholm Early Music Festival, today the largest festival for early music in the Nordic countries. Shaping the international musical landscape, he chairs NORDEM (Nordic Early Music) since 2006 and has been the president of REMA (European Early Music Network) 2011-2015.

Pontvik initiated and implemented the Early Music Day in 2013, celebrated worldwide on the 21 March. He promoted further the opening of Early Music Sweden, National stage of early music in 2022.

In the field of composition, Pontvik’s works are mainly related to vocal music and have often a connection with Latin America. His opus include pieces such as Sagitra, Missa Brevis, Candombe and Amen.