Robert Bennesh | Church musician and organist

Since September 2024, Robert Bennesh has served as the organist at Uppsala Cathedral. Previously, he held the position of cathedral organist at Lund Cathedral from 2016 to 2024. Robert earned his organist degree in 2009 and began working as a church musician at St. Andreas’ Church in Malmö while also teaching choir singing and organ performance at Heleneholm Gymnasium. At the same time, he continued his studies, earning a master’s degree in church music from both Malmö Academy of Music and the Royal Danish Academy of Music.

A pivotal moment in Robert’s career came during a master class at St. Johannes’ Church in Malmö, where he met his role model, Thomas Murray from Yale University. Inspired and encouraged to further his studies in the United States, he was awarded a generous scholarship from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. This opportunity led him to spend three years in the U.S., where he earned another master’s degree and a final soloist diploma in 2015.

Upon returning to Sweden, Robert briefly worked in Skanör-Falsterbo before being appointed cathedral organist in Lund in 2016. During his tenure, he built a strong musical team and significantly expanded the cathedral’s music programme. He led the Saturday concert series, organised Skåne’s Organ Weeks, and enhanced the congregation’s choir activities, with a special emphasis on boys' and girls' choirs. He also championed new compositions, frequently collaborating with composers and premiering works by both students and established composers such as Staffan Storm, Per Gunnar Petersson, and Judith Bingham. A highlight of his work was the performance of a jubilee oratorio by Stefan Klaverdal during Lund Cathedral’s 900th anniversary in 2023, featuring all the congregation’s choirs.

Beyond his cathedral duties, Robert has been actively involved in Sweden’s musical community. He served on the board of Körcentrum Syd, was a member of the artistic council of the Lund Choral Festival, and since 2020, has been chairman of the Church of Sweden’s music committee.

As organist at Uppsala Cathedral, Robert is responsible for choral and oratorio activities, organ concerts, and the musical planning of several national holidays. He also teaches solo organ performance at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and is frequently engaged as an organ soloist, accompanist, orchestral musician, and choirmaster.

Reflecting on his time at Malmö Academy of Music, Robert describes it as particularly formative:

To succeed as a church musician, you need to learn quickly and adapt to different genres and instruments. Malmö Academy of Music prepared me exceptionally well for the demands of professional life, thanks to the knowledgeable and dedicated teachers. I am very grateful for that.