Erik Arvinder | |
---|---|
Born | 1984 |
Origin | Stockholm, Sweden |
Genres | Orchestral, Pop |
Occupation(s) | Conductor, arranger, orchestrator, violinist, multi-instrumentalist |
Years active | 2004–present |
Erik Mikael Arvinder, born in 1984 in Stockholm, Sweden, is a Swedish violinist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, orchestrator and conductor. [1] He is known for his work across Europe and the United States, [2] and for collaborations with international artists such as Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Ariana Grande, Coldplay, Childish Gambino and John Legend. [3] [4] Arvinder has worked as creative director for Leksand's Chamber Music Festival, concertmaster for several Nordic ensembles and founding member of the Vamlingbo Quartet. [5] [6] He is also the founder, conductor and creative director of Stockholm Studio Orchestra, a session orchestra of over 80 musicians, that has recorded music for over 2,500 songs as well as films, TV productions and video games with around 200 annual releases spanning genres. [7]
Arvinder grew up in a musical family where both parents worked as musicians in Sweden's leading orchestras - his mother in the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and his father in the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. [8] He attended choir schools throughout his education, first Adolf Fredrik's Music School (elementary school), followed by Stockholms Musikgymnasium (high school). At the age of 13 he began performing as a violinist in the Stockholm Youth Symphony Orchestra. [9]
Arvinder studied violin at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. [1] He completed a seven-year music education that included a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and a diploma program. [8] Since graduating, he has returned to the Royal College of Music as an alumnus to participate in the panel discussion series 'Möt Musiklivet'. [10]
Throughout his career, Arvinder has participated in a vast range of projects spanning classical music, pop music, scoring for film and television and commercial production. He is experienced with the many stages of classical and popular music production as a musician, arranger, orchestrator, composer and conductor.
Since 2010, Arvinder has been part of the band in the Swedish TV program Såmycket bättre, where he participates as a multi-instrumentalist. [8]
Arvinder has worked with numerous international music artists, including Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Dolly Parton, Ariana Grande, Avicii, Coldplay, Childish Gambino and John Legend. [3] [4] His work in the film industry includes orchestration for films such as Creed (2015), and the Netflix musical comedy The Prom (2020). [11] He has also contributed to Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and television productions such as NBC's comedy Community and Netflix documentary series Chef's Table . [12] [13]
At the Nobel Banquet in 2024, Arvinder participated as conductor and string composer. The arrangement consisted of four acts of newly composed music by Bo Wastesson, Laleh and Gustaf Thörn. Arvinder contributed with string arrangements and conducted recordings of songs such as "When Good Ain't Good" and "Many Lights". [14]
In 2008, at age 23, Arvinder became the youngest violinist to secure a permanent position with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. [2] Described as his “dream job”, he remained with the orchestra for two years before relocating to the United States in 2010. [8]
Arvinder left the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra to move to Los Angeles. There he initially planned to continue his studies, but quickly became busy with professional music projects with, among others, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO). [15]
Between 2011 and 2013, Arvinder toured as a multi-instrumentalist with Childish Gambino playing violin, keyboard and percussion during the I Am Donald and Camp tours. [16] In 2014, Arvinder toured as a violinist with John Legend during the All Of Me tour. [17]
In 2017, together with Anthony Gonzalez (M83) and Chris Hartz (Passion Pit), [18] Arvinder arranged and orchestrated the Cirque du Soleil show Volta . [19]
In January and February 2025, Arvinder conducted the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in a collaboration with the Swedish duo First Aid Kit at Berwaldhallen in Stockholm. [20] The concerts received positive reviews for Arvinder's balanced and "ambitious" arrangements. [21]
[22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36]