Norrbotten NEO is the most modern and distinctive voice on the Swedish music scene today. After meticulous preparatory work from Petter Sundkvist and Kjell Englund, the ensemble started up in January 2007, with a grant from the Swedish Arts Council, the municipalities of Piteå and Luleå, and Norrbotten County Council. The ensemble is the only example of its kind in Sweden, being charged with promoting contemporary art music on a national basis. The word ’Neo’ means simply ’new’ and reflects both the music performed and the experience offered to audiences.
The ensemble consists of seven musicians employed full-time and has the small town Piteå, in the north of Sweden, as its home base within the County Councils own music institution Norrbottensmusiken. Norrbotten NEO performs contemporary music at the highest international level, in a manner which is both exciting and which reaches out to newcomers as well as to experienced listeners. The ensemble has quickly become an essential force in Swedish music life, always stirring and challenging its audiences. Norrbotten NEO works with young and more established composers alike, from inside and outside of the country, and is commissioning new works on a constant basis.