Stefan Therstam

Swedish organist and professor, born July 9, 1958 in Eskilstuna, Södermanland County. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm for Gotthard Arnér and Rune Engsö in solo organ playing and for Anders Bondeman in organ improvisation. The church musician education was followed by the soloist line in organ and ended with a diploma. Through the Academy of Music's large scholarship abroad, he continued his studies, mainly for Bernard Bartelink and André Isoir. In 1988 he won the international organ improvisation competition in Haarlem in the Netherlands. Therstam has been an organist at Engelbrekt Church in Stockholm since 1999. He also has a professorship in organ improvisation at the Royal Academy of Music and has been teaching both liturgical organ playing and improvisation since 1985. In the years 2006–2015, he was also head of the department of classical music at the Royal Academy of Music. Stefan Therstam gives regular concerts inside and outside Sweden. His activities include international jury assignments and lectures.