Erik Berndalen

Lecturer i Music Theory

Erik Berndalen studied arranging and composition as well as music theory with educational focus at the Malmö Academy of Music in 2002–2007 and has worked as a lecturer in music theory, music history at the Malmö Academy of Music since 2010. From 2008–2016 he also worked as a teacher in music theoretical subjects at S: t Sigfrids folk high school in Växjö.

In addition to his educational work, Erik lists in many different musical contexts in southern Sweden. As an arranger, he has worked closely with The Band of The Royal Swedish Navy in Karlskrona for many years and among other ensembles that have performed Erik´s arrangements, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Göteborg Wind Orchestra, Jönköping Sinfonietta and DalaSinfoniettan (for the latter ensemble Erik wrote all arrangements for Naxos production "Symphonified"). Among his compositions are two string quartets, two brass quintets, a number of marches ordered by the "Försvarsmakten", and the choir and orchestra work "A Brother More" commissioned by the Crafoordska Stiftelsen in Lund.

Erik is especially productive in the wind orchestra world – since 2013 he has been conducting Hemvärnets Musikkår in Eslöv, and has been a guest conductor for the The Band of The Royal Swedish Navy, Livgardets Dragonmusikkår och Marinens Ungdomsmusikkår.

As a musician with trumpet and cornet as a main instrument, Erik has played at jazz festivals and other scenes in a dozen countries in Europe, as well as in Japan, Australia and the U S A. In 1999 he won the soloist prize at Musik Direkt's Jazz Competition at Club Fasching in Stockholm and in 2001 he was awarded the Swedish Tradjazz Association's Louis Armstrong scholarship.

Today, Erik is a highly regarded trumpeter in tradjazz and swing in ensembles in and around Malmö.