At the Svensk Jazz annual meeting in Jönköping on May 10th, Marit Woody-Lambin was elected as the new chairperson of the Swedish National Jazz Association, Svensk Jazz. Marit is the first woman ever to hold this position and succeeds Gunno Sandahl, who stepped down during the meeting after serving as chairperson since 2018.

Marit Woody-Lambin is a well-known figure in the Swedish music industry with a strong commitment to the development of jazz. She has a background as a vocalist and songwriter and is educated in law and communication. Most recently, Marit served as Chief Operating Officer at Musikförläggarna, where she worked from 2018 to 2025. She has extensive experience in leadership and communication within both the corporate world and non-profit organizations. 

In her new role as chairperson of Svensk Jazz, Marit Woody-Lambin aims to focus on strengthening the conditions for Swedish jazz and all its actors. "We must safeguard the conditions for Swedish jazz to thrive, both now and in the future. Today, the circumstances for both organizers and performing jazz musicians are incredibly challenging, and action is needed from both political and private actors to ensure that we can continue to have a flourishing cultural and jazz scene in Sweden. I am passionate about fostering growth and improving conditions for everyone involved in the ecosystem surrounding the internationally acclaimed Swedish jazz scene – organizers, musicians, bookers, agents, and other enablers."

She also emphasizes the importance of education, inclusion, and cultural policy initiatives: "We need to strengthen education rather than dismantle it. We need to create inclusive, equal, and equitable conditions for everyone working in the industry. And we need policies that safeguard and understand the value of culture and jazz as a human-enriching force and as a fundamental part of democracy. I am incredibly happy to now have the opportunity to engage even more in these issues and am very proud to have been entrusted with the role of chairperson for Svensk Jazz, a national association that is needed today more than ever!"

Marit Woody-Lambin’s appointment marks a new chapter in the history of Svensk Jazz, and the association looks forward to continuing its work to strengthen the position of jazz in Sweden under her leadership.

Photo by (c) Camilla Svensk