Henrik Schaefer is a regular fixture on the podium at opera houses and symphony orchestras across the world, proving himself an engaged partner with strong musical ideas. He started his conducting career as an assistant to Claudio Abbado with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently the Music Director of the Folkopera Stockholm and Associate Professor for Orchestral Conducting at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. .

His former positions include being Music Director of the Gothenburg Opera House between 2013 and 2020 and being Chief Conductor of the Wermland Opera Karlstad from 2007 to 2013. From 2004 to 2011 Henrik Schaefer was Principal Guest Conductor of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra.