Ensemble Villancico was formed in 1995, with the renaissance music collection ”Cancionero de Upsala 1556” as its principal repertoire. This collection formed the basis of the ensemble’s mission in its first few years: performing and spreading early music with links to the Nordic region.

From the year 2000 the ensemble’s focus turned to Latin American baroque, a genre still growing as more and more manuscripts are being rediscovered in the archives of churches and monasteries in Central America and the northwest region of South America. The combination of early world music full of Latin temperament and a musical clarity based on the Nordic traditions of its members, has earned the ensemble global reputation.

The ensemble has made more than 250 performances in 25 countries, made six CD recordings, and their performances have appeared on television and radio across the world. Among the many music festival appearances in Europe and Latin America, the opening concert at the genre-leading festival Misiones de Chiquitos in Bolivia is noteworthy.

Peter Pontvik

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1963. Has studied composition, musicology, singing and choir conducting in Sweden, Uruguay and Germany. Has written chamber music as well as works for choir and orchestra, and done research in the early music field. In 1995 he formed Ensemble Villancico. Pontvik founded the Stockholm Early Music Festival in 2002 and has been its artistic director since then. He is chairman of the Nordic organisation NORDEM and, since 2011, President of the European network REMA. He has received the award "Promoter of the Year 2004” from Swedish Music Festivals and the “Swedish Early Music Award 2010".

Medlemmar

	Jessica Bäcklund, soprano (www.jessicabacklund.se) Jessica is active as a freelance singer, performing regularly with The Swedish Radio Choir, Ensemble Villancico, and her own vocal quartett Ensemble Fleder. Her repertoire covers everything from early to contemporary music. Jessica has been engaged by Wermand Opera, Läckö Slottsopera and the Danish Radio among others as a soloist and ensemble singer.
	Annasara Jaensson, soprano Educated singer and chamber soloist at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen and The Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Annasara’s repertoire ranges from early to contemporary music with focus on church music. As a freelance soloist she is particularly appreciated for her interpretations of sacred music in concert and church service. Member of the ensemble since 1995.
	Dan Johansson, countertenor (www.tidigaklaver.se) Dan Johansson’s focus on early music and early keyboard instruments started in Gothenburg around 1980. By that time, he was one of few in Sweden to sing countertenor. After studying harpsichord playing at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, he now combines freelance playing and singing with his work as curator at the Stockholm Music- & Theatre Museum.
	Gonca Yazan, alto Gonca has studied piano at The Istanbul University State Conservatory, and piano, piano pedagogy, song and harpsichord at the University College of Music Education in Stockholm. She has been singing in Stockholm’s most prominent choirs, making CD recordings and teaching the piano for many years. Gonca is a freelance singer, pianist and piano teacher.
	Love Enström, tenor Love Enström could be described as a musical chameleon. His solo repertoire spans from early baroque music, such as Rappresentatione Di Anima e Di Corpo by Cavalieri, to late romantic music, such as Lied von der Erde by Mahler. As an ensemble singer Love has performed most of the great works and has sung for conductors such as Muti, Abbado and Gergiev. Since 2004 Love is employed by the world renowned Swedish Radio Choir and regularly travels the world to perform.
	Carl-Fredrik Jaensson, tenor Carl-Fredrik Jaensson has a background studying musicology, and as an established ensemble singer he has been a member of Ensemble Villancico since 1995. Apart from the ensemble’s recordings he has participated in around ten recordings with the world renowned men’s choir Orphei Drängar. Carl-Fredrik is also a partner at the PR bureau Prime.
	Yamandú Pontvik, baritone (www.yamandumusic.se) Yamandú is active as a singer, choir conductor and composer. He is also artistic director of the Sundsvall Chamber Music Festival and Summer Music, and in 2006 founded the concert stage Almamia in the same city. In 2003 he formed his own Ensemble Yamandú, with the purpose of promoting multiculturalism and integration in sacred music. Yamandú was awarded the Kjell Lönnå Prize in 2010 and an award by the City of Sundsvall in 2011.
	Markus Ström, flutes and recorders (www.mediastrom.se) Markus Ström has specialized in improvisation techniques of the baroque period. In 2003 he finished a research project on English baroque ornamentation and improvisation at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. In the baroque ensemble Groundhogs he plays theatre music from Purcell’s London. Markus has performed at numerous festivals and concert series, and is Ensemble Villancico’s flutist since 1999.
	Karl Nyhlin, early guitars and lutes (www.karlnyhlin.com) Karl Nyhlin is in demand throughout Europe as a soloist and continuo player on various lutes, theorbos and early guitars, and is represented on numerous recordings. His critically acclaimed debut solo CD (2010) was followed up by his second CD ”The Jacobean Lutenists” in February 2012. It has already received rave reviews such as "album of the year in its genre", ”an art that Nyhlin masters to perfection.”
	Magdalena Mårding, viola da gamba Magdalena was born in Stockholm. She holds a Masters degree from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, and a Diploma in historical performance practice from Frankfurt am Main, Germany. She is also a member of Rebaroque.
	Karl Thorsson, percussion Karl Thorsson divides his time between playing drums and hitting various objects in the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, flying aeroplanes, visiting his resort on the island Koh Samui, and working with charity projects both in Sweden and in Thailand.
	Daniela Valero, dance Born in Mexico City, Daniela moved to Sweden in 2007. She studied Classical Ballet and Early Dance at the University of Dance and Circus in Stockholm and at Mexico's National Institute for Classical Ballet and Modern Dance. Daniela has freelanced in both Europe and Latin America and she has also a long experience as a dance teacher.
	Kaj Sylegård, dance Kaj Sylegård, dancer and musician, holds degrees from the Royal College of Music and the College of Dance in Stockholm. He has performed, taught and given workshops throughout Europe and the US.