“I’ve sort of always been singing, but only for fun. My mother and grandfather invented various music games, sang canon, and played with words. We were just having fun, but it turned into decades of musical schooling without us thinking of it as such.”

Kristoffer Töyrä grew up in Gammelstad in Luleå. His mother was a graphic designer and his father an electrician. He had not discovered classical music yet, it was just pop and folk music. Exploring culture in Luleå in the 1990s was generally difficult, he says.

“In fourth grade, I wanted to learn how to play the guitar, but there was only one guitar teacher and he was fully booked. Instead I got help from my friends. Since I didn’t have lessons, I played with the guitar all the time. I wanted to learn how to play!”

From guitarist to opera singer

In seventh grade, Kristoffer played in a band and later applied to high school, focusing his studies on music, in particular the guitar. There he met a teacher that challenged him in a completely new genre.

“One day, my singing teacher asked me if I would sing some classical music. I thought it sounded really weird, but I said yes, mostly because she had asked. I was completely hooked and decided to continue for as long as it was still fun, and I haven’t stopped since.”

After high school, he enrolled in Framnäs Folk High School. During those two years, he considered his career choices.

“When I later attended the music school, I realised there was nothing else I’d rather be doing than this. I still feel that way today.”

Authorised to play at work

During his studies, Kristoffer was hired in the choir at the Gothenburg Opera, where he still works. It turned out to be a place with room for play.

“As a choir, we have to convey various emotions as requested by the director, and that means we have to experiment and, well, play. It’s almost more fun to create the product than to showcase it.”

The soloist roles are growing in number. Kristoffer Töyrä finds a particular joy in creating and bringing to life a role in just the way he has envisioned.

“I love being a soloist. The musical freedom you get from standing there alone with an orchestra, in combination with the conductor and I agreeing on how we want it to be. That’s amazing!”

First Gothenburg, then the world

“I remember when I stepped on to the big stage at the Gothenburg Opera for the first time – I’d never been to an opera house. Suddenly, I was in a concert hall with balconies that can house 1,400 people! That was a very exciting feeling.”

The goal is to sing in different corners of the world, work with extraordinary musicians – and to create!

“For now, this is the only place I have been and I don’t really know what the rest of the world looks like. The entire point is to continue creating and do things, but I am not sure exactly what,” says Kristoffer.

After long having learned through the play, there are many roles he would like to spend time learning in the future.

“I’m very fond of Don Giovanni. I just had the honour of performing as a cover for Commendatore at the Gothenburg Opera. I’d love to learn Leporello. Banquo in Macbeth would also be fun to play with to see what I can make with it.”

Dare to choose the music

It can be hard to even imagine becoming a professional musician when there are none present close by or when music lessons are not available. To have the basics is important, according to Kristoffer.

“No matter what, do it anyway. That’s what I did. It is absolutely possible to work professionally with music, if that’s what you desire.”

Society can also do more. He is a strong believer of more playing in schools.

“Play with maths, play with music, play with it all. If we can infuse learning with fun, knowledge will stick better, you’ll do more of it and can become very good at it. I keep returning to fun and games! I think it’s good.”