Sofi Jeannin

Renowned for her beautifully clear and succinct technique, and with a formidable repertoire knowledge and understanding across all genres, Swedish-born Sofi Jeannin has established herself as one of the finest and most respected choral specialists around today.

Currently Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers and Music Director of la Maîtrise de Radio France, Jeannin was previously Music Director of the Choeur de Radio France, a post she took up in 2015.

Through her work with the French Radio Chorus – the largest professional symphonic chorus in Europe – Jeannin became the collaborative conductor of choice for a number of prominent figures, including Gustavo Dudamel, Bernard Haitink, Christoph Eschenbach and Valery Gergiev, collaborating with orchestras such as l’Orchestre National de France, l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

In 2008, Jeannin was appointed Music Director of la Maîtrise de Radio France – the choir famously favoured by Messiaen and Dutilleux – where she continues to have the musical and pedagogical responsibility of 180 choristers. During her time with la Maîtrise, Jeannin has commissioned many new works, collaborating with composers such as Kaija Saariaho, Peter Eötvös, John Adams and Thierry Escaich, and has given regular broadcasts on France Musique.

In September 2018, Sofi Jeannin formally began her tenure with the BBC Singers as their new Chief Conductor. Recent and forthcoming performance highlights with the BBC Singers include appearances at the BBC Proms, including world premieres by Shiva Feshareki and Nico Muhly in the 2021 season; a collaboration with the Academy of Ancient Music and South Asian dance company Akademi exploring the dances of Rameau with classical and contemporary Indian dance; and Poulenc’s iconic choral work Figure Humaine with jazz interpolations from BBC New Generation Artist Misha Mullov Abado.

Alongside her work with the BBC Singers, Jeannin has a busy and fulfilling guest career, with recent and future engagement highlights including appearances with orchestras such as the Halle, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, New Japan Philharmonic, Auckland Philharmonia, and Norrköping Symphony, conducting repertoire such as Haydn The Seasons, Poulenc Gloria, Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms, Britten, Sinfonia de Requiem, Faure Requiem, a selection of Bach oratorio and Passion movements, and Handel’s Messiah. Choral project highlights include appearances with the Swedish Radio Chorus, Coro Casa da Musica, DR VokalEnsemblet, Chamber Choir Ireland, NFM Choir, Wroclaw, and la Maîtrise de Radio France.

Sofi Jeannin studied conducting and singing at the Stockholm Royal College of Music, the Nice Conservatoire and then at the Royal College of Music, London, with Paul Spicer. She conducted her first BBC Radio 3 broadcast, the British premiere of Consolation I by Helmut Lachenmann, in 2006.

Committed to education and outreach work, Jeannin has worked with the chorus and orchestra of Kinshasa, Congo, and has also been involved in El Sistema, Greece since early 2017. She regularly gives workshops and masterclasses around the world.

Sofi Jeannin conducted Chamber Choir Ireland in a concert of stunning French choral compositions entitled ‘Résonances‘ in October 2019, and a concert of Scandinavian choral music in the February 2022 concert, ‘Northern Lights’.

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