Welcome to Ingesund School of Music

We are proud to announce that concert pianist Aristo Sham, from Hong Kong—an alumnus and faculty member at the Ingesund School of Music—has been included on Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 Asia – The Arts 2026 list. Selection for the list is based on achievement, impact, or success, and is made by Forbes’ editorial team and experts. Being included is a mark of quality and an internationally recognized distinction.

“Being selected for Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30 Asia’ is an extraordinary international recognition and something very rare within the classical music world,” says Julia Mustonen Dahlkvist, who taught Aristo Sham during his time as a student at the Ingesund School of Music. “It means that, at a young age, Aristo is already regarded as one of the most influential and inspiring individuals in his field. For me, it also feels very personal.

In early summer, the Ingesund School of Music welcomes a new doctoral student in music education. Her name is Stina Wennberg, and she is passionate about music in preschool – an area that will form the basis of her dissertation, with a focus on the musical aspects of singing sessions.

Can you tell us about your background and education?

Raymond MacDonald is Professor of Music Psychology and Improvisation at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a saxophonist, composer, and psychologist with an extensive career spanning music, interdisciplinary artistic collaboration with visual artists and filmmakers, and academia. On 23 April, he will visit the Ingesund School of Music to give an open lecture for students, staff, and invited guests from other universities.

After completing his PhD in Psychology at the University of Glasgow, where he researched the therapeutic applications of music, he worked as Artistic Director of the music organisation Limelight, which collaborates with people with disabilities. He was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Psychology of Music from 2006 to 2012 and Head of Music at the University of Edinburgh from 2013 to 2017.

The Jan Wallander Prize is awarded on 26 March and goes to Elias Grimstad, who for the next nine years will have the opportunity to use a violin made in 1856 by Andrea Postacchini.

Violinist Elias Grimstad is a student at the Artist Diploma program, Ingesund School of Music, with Peter Herrestahl as his teacher. Elias Grimstad will receive the prestigious Jan Wallander Prize 2026 at a ceremony at the Royal College of Music (KMH) in Stockholm, where he will share the stage with KMH students as well as guest artists during the evening.

At just 15 years old, Linne Waljeståhl started her own company in order to work in the music industry. After studying music at several schools and earning a degree from the Music Production Programme at Ingesund School of Music, she now works as an artist, musician, producer, songwriter, and part‑time teacher in music production, ensemble and drums

What is your background, where did you grow up?

“I grew up in Åmotfors in Eda municipality, but I now live in Arvika. I started playing drums when I was 2 years old and took drum lessons at the School of Culture from the age of 8. When I turned 9, I began playing piano and took lessons in both piano and drums until I graduated. I’ve been writing songs for as long as I can remember, and throughout my childhood I learned a lot from my father, who is a sound technician, about how recording, mixing, producing, and so on works.

Pursuing doctoral studies is often described as climbing Mount Parnassus, the divine mountain where the well‑educated were allowed to gather according to Greek mythology. Earning a doctorate is hard work and at times quite a solitary existence, often an uphill climb that stretches over several years. But what is it like to pursue a doctorate in music? Two teachers at Ingesund School of Music are doctoral candidates at the School of Music in Piteå, which belongs to Luleå University of Technology, and they have now reached the halfway point in their studies.

What made you decide to begin doctoral studies?

“Much of it was due to the pandemic,” says Ann Elkjär, flute teacher. “Before that, I had taught half‑time for many years at Ingesund and freelanced as a musician the rest of the time. During the pandemic, all concerts were cancelled, but then the opportunity arose to pursue a PhD half‑time at the School of Music in Piteå at Luleå University of Technology. Also, there aren’t that many teachers with a PhD at Ingesund, and that competence is needed for teaching in our music programmes.”