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