Representing professional composers in Sweden since 1918
The Society of Swedish Composers represents professional composers who are active in the field of contemporary classical music composition. It has existed since 1918, when it was founded by some of the most renowned Swedish composers of the day – people like Kurt Atterberg, Hugo Alfvén, Oskar Lindberg, Wilhelm Peterson-Berger, Ture Rangström, Wilhelm Stenhammar and others.

FST has today 329 members, of whom 306 are composers. The other members are either elected as associate members or as honorary members, meaning that in their professional lives they have in various ways supported and encouraged contemporary Swedish music.

FST’s objective is to look after the artistic, financial and social interests of its members, to help spread Swedish music nationwide as well as worldwide, and generally to promote Swedish musical culture.

Stim’s founders
It was the FST which in 1923 founded Stim, the Swedish Performing Rights Society, recognising that the monitoring and administration of copyright and royalties took too much time away from the political debate about music, and from actually composing music. Since then, FST has been represented on Stim’s board and on various committees related to Stim’s activities, including Svensk Musik (the Swedish Music Information Center).

National, Nordic and international co-operation
Ever since its foundation, FST has maintained wide-ranging contacts with composer organisations in other countries, and has campaigned actively to strengthen international co-operation both in artistic and copyright matters. Nordic co-operation within the Nordic Composers´ Council (Nordisk komponistråd) is particularly active. FST works closely with other artistic organisations, through Klys, the Swedish Joint Committée for Artistic and Literary Professionals (Konstnärliga och litterära yrkesutövares samarbetsnämnd). Moreover FST is the body to which political proposals involving music are referred. FST is also represented on the boards of various institutions, foundations and administrative groups involved in music.

FST’s organisation and internal working
The board consists of eight active composers. The administrative headquarters are located in Stockholm, and meetings are held once a month. The work is very varied and ranges from giving financial advice to arranging social gatherings – sometimes light-hearted, sometimes formal.

Members are spread all over Sweden, though a large majority live in the Stockholm area. Gothenburg and its surroundings, and the southern province of Skåne are also home to many composers. Anyone who is established in a not too tightly defined sphere of Swedish musical life can become a member. For more information about the election criteria, please go to Söka medlemskap i FST (in Swedish only!) or contact the FST office. See contact information.

Here is a Pdf-folder about FST

You can find Swedish contemporary classical music on CD at Swedish Music Shop.

You can find composer biographies, books, scores and parts and more at The Swedish Music Information Centre.