Paula af Malmborg Ward b. 1962
Composer and musician with a penchant for musical drama. Raised in Stockholm, lives in Gothenburg since 1992. Composes music in a former coal tower at Nya Varvet. Timing and text are two key words in her opera creation, which are combined with works for orchestra and choir, solo and ensemble as well as music for TV and radio.
Recently actual with the chamber opera Systemet (libretto Naima Chahboun) Atalante, Gothenburg January 2024, the vocal symphony Spår vägar (libretto by the composer) Gothenburg Symphony Orch/ Gothenburg Symphony Vocal Ensemble December 2023 and the two act opera Mytomania (libretto Kerstin Perski) October 2023.
During 2021-2022, Paula as a composer, lyricist, arranger, singer and pianist released two double CDs on Imogena Records, with songs created in the years 1979-91.
Pållan’s songs – to the end, from the beginning and MORE Pållan’s songs.
Paula is a board member of the Royal Academy of Music and a member of FST and SKAP.
Paula is also one of the initiators of Kalvfestivalen and Frontside Gothenburg International Chamber Music Festival.
She loves to sing. And play. And talk.
Thinking: being a musician must be the finest of professions.
Then thinking: but they must have something to play too.
Prices (selection)
FST’s composer prize Rosenberg prize
Gothenburg City’s badge of merit
1st prize Prix Italia for the radio opera Hittekvinnan
The Carin Malmlöf-Forssling prize
Expressen’s music prize Spelmannen
Paula af Malmborg Ward, b. 1962
EDUCATION
1992-1997
Malmö Academy of Music: Master in composition with emphasis on musical drama 160 credits
1989-1992
Stockholm Academy of Music: Candidate arrangement/composition 120 credits
1979-1983
Stockholm Academy of Music: music teacher 160 credits
1977-1979
Södra Latin Stockholm: high school music program
EMPLOYMENTS
2011-2013
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra: Composer in Residence, GSO Puls (educational programs)
2006 -2009
Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra: Composer in Residence
SAMI/YF Gothenburg: project manager
2005
Stockholm City Theater: composer and musical instructor for Name: Spielrein Sabina
2004-2005
Sveriges Television (Swedish public service television): composer, arranger, pianist, singer and conductor at the production En decemberdröm, that year’s Christmas calendar
2001-2002
Gothenburg Academy of Music: supervisor of the Individual Study Program for music
Riksteatern: musical instructor for Ängel
1999-2000
Norrlandsoperan: composer and arranger for Ängel
1998-1999
Smålands Musik o Teater: composer and project manager for Operation Kärleken
Finnish National Opera: arranger and instructor for Vaellus
1998-99
Kalmar regional music: composer Missa Praesentis Dialectica
1994-97
Gothenburg Opera: instructor and arranger for the Porträttet
and the Skåpet
1994
Municipal Music School in Partille: song teacher
1987-1989
Stockholms Parkteater: arranger for and choralist in the Un ballo in Maschera (Verdi)
Stockholm City Theater: arranger and choralist in The Doom of the Earth – a sunshine story
1987-1989
Skottes Musikteater: Musical leader, composer and pianist
1986-1987
Lilla Teatern, Helsinki: Musical leader, composer and pianist for Moje
1984-1985
Sveriges Television (Swedish public service television): concert presenter for Klingande fredag together with Sven-Erik Bäck
Rinkeby and Enskede Elementary School: music teacher
1982-1983
Riksteatern Stockholm: instructor and pianist in Kavallerijungfrun
Chinateatern: singer in Parneviks revyparty
ASSIGNMENTS
2002–
Pianist in the Gothenburg band Stella XL
1999
Leader for the composing class for children at Virserum’s Music Days
1996
Represented with the song Älska mej konkret in the floor show ”Lill & Svensson” Maximteatern, Stockholm
1995
Represented in the exhibition Female Composers at the Stockholm City Library
1989
Concert with own compositions together with Västerås Folk Choir
1986 –
Singer, pianist and songwriter in the trio Bim Bom Bossa
1986-1988
Pianist, singer, songwriter and arranger in the cabaret Tre lösa Boy at Mosebacke Etablissement
1981-1986
Pianist, singer, songwriter and arranger in the 15-piece band Salsa Blanca
1983-1985
Pianist, songwriter, singer and arranger in the pop jazz group Akt 1
1984
Represented in the Eurovision Song Contest (Swedish edition) with the song Rendez-vous: music Bjarne Nyquist, lyrics Bjarne Nyquist/Paula af Malmborg, sung by John Ballard
1979-1985
Freelance pianist, arranger and choir leader, including workshops at the choir convent in Skinnskatteberg, and accompanist for the singer Arja Saijonmaa
1978-1983
Pianist, singer, songwriter and arranger in her own singing group Vox Luxe
BOARD ASSIGNMENTS / REFERENCE GROUPS
2013
Member of the the Royal Swedish Academy of Music’s council for future issues
2012
Member of the prize committee for the Carin Malmlöf-Forssling Foundation
2011-2014
Member of the Arts Council, Statens Musikverk
2009-2015
Board member of the Swedish Society of Composers, FST
2008
Elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
2008-2011
Member of the Music Alliance’s reference group
2005-2009
Chairman of the Levande Musik (contemporary music association), board member since 1999
2006
member of Rikskonserter’s commission work group
2003-2006
Board member of the Saltö Foundation
1999
Elected a member FST (The Swedish Society of Composers)
1995-2004
Board member of the Folkoperan Foundation
1990
Elected a member of SKAP (Association of Swedish Composers of Popular Music)
SCHOLARSHIPS and PRIZES IN SELECTION
FST´s Rosenberg prize 2020
City of Gothenburg Merit Badge 2018
Music publishers’ award 2015 for the choral work Vidder
The Swedish Arts Grants Committee:10 year work scholarship (since 2013)
The Carin Malmlöf-Forssling Prize 2007
Prix Italia: 1st prize 2006 for the radio opera Hittekvinnan
Newspaper Expressen’s music award ”Spelmannen” 2005
The Musical Society’s (Musikaliska Föreningen) composer award
The Society Gnistan’s cultural scholarship
Stadsbudskårens i Göteborg cultural scholarship
City of Gothenburg culture scholarship
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music’s scholarship
FST (the Swedish Society of Composers) scholarship
SKAP (Association of Swedish Composers of Popular Music) scholarship
Helge Ax:son Johnssons Foundation’s scholarship
