The lyric mezzo-soprano Ebba Lejonclou is currently in her final year at the Stockholm University of the Arts' Opera Vocal Performance programme scheduled to graduate in June 2024. She is a student of the Swedish tenor Erik Årman.
In 2021 Ebba received her Bachelor’s degree in classical singing from the Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" in Leipzig and before that she studied two years at the Vadstena Academy for voice and piano, majoring in interpretation of art song.
After her graduation, Ebba will sing the role of Sigrid in Folkoperan's production of the contemporary opera Herr Arnes Penningar, with music by Peter Nordahl.
Among recent engagements to be mentioned are Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at the Royal Swedish Opera, Anna Bjelke in a concert performance of Gustaf Wasa by J. G. Naumann with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Woman 1 at the world premiere of Sven-David Sandström’s
The Book of Life with the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Dodo McNeill at the Scandinavian premiere of the critically acclaimed contemporary opera Breaking the Waves by M. Mazzoli at the Vadstena Academy and Zweite Dame in Theater Rudolstadt’s Die Zauberflöte. In April, Ebba could be heard in classical opera arias at the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra's popular "Wish Concerts".
Further studied roles include Dido in Dido and Aeneas by H. Purcell, Orfeo in
Orfeo ed Eurydice by C. W. Gluck, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, zweite Knabe, dritte Knabe, zweite Dame and dritte Dame in
Die Zauberflöte as well as Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito by W. A. Mozart,
Romeo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi by V. Bellini, Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier
by R. Strauss, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel by E. Humperdinck and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly by G. Puccini.
Ebba's sacred repertoire includes the alto solo parts of A. Vivaldi’s Stabat mater, J. S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion and Christmas Oratorio, Dixit Dominus and Messiah by G. F. Händel, Stabat mater by G. P Pergolesi as well as by
J. Haydn, Great Mass in C minor and Requiem by W. A. Mozart and
Elijah by F. Mendelssohn.
In addition to this repertoire, Ebba finds great joy in working with the interpretation of songs and Lieder. Her musical interest is all-encompassing and she also draws inspiration from singing music from the genres of musical, folk, jazz and soul. She has a particular fondness for the music of J. S. Bach, and during her time in Leipzig she often sang with Bach's own Thomanerchor, both in the St. Thomas church in Leipzig and in concert tours all around Germany. She often sang the alto solo parts at the monthly performances of Bach cantatas given at the HMT in Leipzig. Between 2017-2021, she was employed as a first alto in the Leipzig-based vocal sextet Voicemade.
Ebba has worked with conductors such as Andreas Hanson, Fredrik Burstedt, Constantin Trinks, Tobias Ringborg, David Björkman, Staffan Mårtensson,
Mats Janhagen, Oliver Weder, Matthias Foremny and Gotthold Schwarz.
She has received several scholarships, among them the Royal Swedish Opera and Hans Björklund Foundation's scholarship "for young talents within the world of opera", Kerstin Meyer and Björn Bixeliu’s scholarship, Östgöta Gille’s music scholarship, the Anders Sandrew Foundation's scholarship for education, the Anna Whitlock's Memorial Fund's scholarship for studies abroad, Linkoping's scholarship for cultural practitioners, G T Bäckman's scholarship, Jubelfonden's scholarship as well as Aurora Lillieros' scholarship for young opera singers.