Marias enmansorkester

Hedvig Maria Johansson
Born	Template:Birth date Ånimskog, Älvsborg County, Sweden
Died	November 6, 2002(2002-11-06) (aged 84) Hägersten, Stockholm, Sweden
Occupation(s)	Street evangelist, solo musical performer
Years active	1972–2002
Known for	Daily performances at Sergels torg in Stockholm; nicknames "Marias enmansorkester" and "Maria med orgeln"

Hedvig Maria Johansson (; born 5 March 1918, deceased 6 November 2002), widely recognized by the nicknames Marias enmansorkester (The Maria one-person orchestra) and Maria med orgeln (Maria with the organ), was a Swedish street evangelist and solo musical performer who appeared daily at Sergels torg in central Stockholm from 1972 until 2002.

Biography

Johansson was born on 5 March 1918 in Ånimskog, Älvsborg County, into a devout family, with her father serving as a free church preacher. She married Erik Johansson and resided in Stockholm, where she performed at both weddings and non-religious occasions. In 1970, she received an invitation to play at a lottery stand located at Sergels torg, which had been inaugurated in 1967. Following an eight-day religious singing event there the next year, public interest encouraged her to make occasional returns.

Starting on 4 September 1972, Johansson commenced daily appearances at the square using a cart outfitted with various instruments. This mobile setup included electric pianos, amplifiers, a microphone, loudspeakers, and compartments for taped music and leaflets. From 1979 onwards, the cart was motorized after obtaining authorization from the National Swedish Road Safety Office.

Her musical selections primarily consisted of Christian hymns and spiritual songs, featuring well-known pieces such as "Jag har hört om en stad ovan molnen" alongside her original work "Skyddsängeln."

Johansson died in Hägersten, Stockholm, on 6 November 2002 at the age of 84. Health complications prevented her from celebrating three decades as a performing artist earlier that year. After her passing, her husband donated her musical cart to the Stockholm City Museum. Her funeral service was held at Uppståndelsekapellet within Skogskyrkogården cemetery in Stockholm.

In 1986, she authored an autobiography entitled Nardus och spikar.