John Gunnar Rafael Storg�rds is a Finnish violinist and conductor. Storg�rds studied violin with Esther Raitio and Jouko Ignatius at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and continued his violin studies with Chaim Taub in Israel. He was a founding member of the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra. After experience leading orchestras from the front desk of the violin section, his interest in conducting increased after an invitation to conduct the Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra. He subsequently returned to the Sibelius Academy from 1993-1997 to study conducting with Jorma Panula and Eri Klas. In 1996, Storg�rds became Artistic Director of the Chamber Orchestra of Lapland. With the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, he became Principal Guest Conductor in 2003 and subsequently Chief Conductor in autumn 2008, for an initial contract of 4 years. His Helsinki contract has since been extended to 2014. In October 2013, the orchestra announced a further extension of his contract through December 2015, at which time Storg�rds is scheduled to step down from the chief conductorship of the orchestra.. From 2006 to 2009, Storg�rds was Chief Conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra. 

October 20th, 1963 in Helsinki (Age 60)