About Sergej
"His fine ear and mature understanding of the works informs his gestures and his interaction with the orchestra musicians. They cannot help but to respond to his passion and his exceptional musicianship."
PAAVO JÄRVI
Swedish conductor Sergej Bolkhovets has established himself as a compelling artist on the podium, building upon his already extensive international career as a violinist, including with the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Highlights of the 2024/25 season include his debut with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and his return to the Swedish Royal Opera and the Gothenburg Opera, where he previously held the Kapellmeister position from 2020 to 2022. Last season, Bolkhovets made his debut with the Helsingborg Symphony and the Malmö Symphony Orchestras, both of which resulted in immediate re-invitations. Additionally, he returned to the NorrlandsOperan, the Gävle Symphony Orchestra, the Gothenburg Opera and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, with whom he shares a long-standing collaboration. He also recorded a CD with the Munich Chamber Orchestra.
Further recent conducting engagements include performances with the Bayerische Staatsoper, Luzern Sinfonieorchester, Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, Manchester Camerata, Scottish Opera, Red Note Ensemble, Dalasinfoniettan, Stockholm Folkoperan and Norrköping Symphony Orchestra.
He was the Conducting Fellow at the Royal Northern College of Music, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, as well as at the Verbier Festival. He also studied orchestra conducting at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Weimar and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Bolkhovets served as Assistant Conductor at the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in 2019-20. He has also participated in masterclasses and conducting workshops with a.o. Paavo Järvi, David Zinman, working with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the London Sinfonietta.
Before transitioning to conducting, Bolkhovets enjoyed a distinguished career as a violinist. He regularly performed as a guest with a.o. the Berliner Philharmoniker, and as guest concertmaster in several leading European orchestras, such as the Frankfurt Opera, Royal Swedish Opera, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as a soloist with a.o. the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Bolkhovets received his violin education at the “Hanns Eisler” Academy of Music in Berlin with Prof. Ulf Wallin and Prof. Tabea Zimmermann, and earned his soloist diploma at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm with Joakim Svenheden.
MILESTONES
2024
Debut
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
2024
CD release
Works by Vasks & Schubert - Sebastian Bohren, Violin - Munich Chamber Orchestra
2023
Debut
Bayrische Staatsoper
2022
Debut
Luzern Symphony Orchestra
2022
Kapellmeister
Gothenburg Opera
2022
Debut
Swedish Royal Opera
2020
Workshop
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
2019-2020
Conducting Fellowship
Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
2019-2020
Assistant Conductor
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
2019
Debut
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
2018
Masterclass
with David Zinman Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich
2018
Conducting Fellowship
Verbier Festival
2016-2018
Conducting Fellowship
Junior Fellowship in Conducting at Royal Northern College of Music
2005-2013
Guest violinist
Berlin Philharmonic
2024
Debut
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
2024
CD release
Works by Vasks & Schubert - Sebastian Bohren, Violin - Munich Chamber Orchestra
2023
Debut
Bayrische Staatsoper
2022
Debut
Luzern Symphony Orchestra
2022
Kapellmeister
Gothenburg Opera
2022
Debut
Swedish Royal Opera
2020
Workshop
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
2019-2020
Conducting Fellowship
Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
2019-2020
Assistant Conductor
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
2019
Debut
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
2018
Masterclass
with David Zinman Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich
2018
Conducting Fellowship
Verbier Festival
2016-2018
Conducting Fellowship
Junior Fellowship in Conducting at Royal Northern College of Music
2005-2013
Guest violinist
Berlin Philharmonic
“Sergej is an absolutely first rate human being, with a pleasant yet authoritative manner in front of an orchestra.”
GARRY WALKER