Throughout his career, Jan Bjøranger has shown a strong instinct as a musical entrepreneur. He was the artistic director of the Umeå International Chamber Music Festival in Sweden for six years, as well as the founder of the KGA Festival in Norway. His work in leading 1B1 triggers both his musical skills as well as the entrepeneur and educator in him. The ensemble has established itself at the forefront of musical enerprise, winning prizes and recognition – for example, Vanity Fair has identified 1B1 as «one of the seven most important [enterprises] on the classical scene today». Jan Bjøranger’s past collaborations with composers including Arvo Pärt, Steve Reich, James MacMillan, Mark Anthony Turnage, Piers Hellawell, Daniel Schnyder and Gija Kancheli also show his and the ensemble’s aim to perform the music of our own time.

Jan Bjøranger is a sought-after leader for ensembles and orchestras in Europe, including the MDR Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Gothenburg Symphony, the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra as well as the Trondheim Soloists, the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and the Danish National Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist and chamber musician, Jan Bjøranger has performed throughout Europe and overseas.

Jan Bjøranger’s work has a strong didactic perspective. He is currently associated with the Berlin University of the Arts, where he tutors conductors and ensemble leaders and coaches symphony orchestra productions.

Jan Bjøranger records for the Simax and BIS labels, but also appears in a great number of recordings, as leader or part of ensembles, for labels such as Phillips, Sony, CcnC, Chandos and EMI.

He plays a violin built by the luthier Domenicus Montagnana in 1725.