Jakob Elmedal Johansen was born in 1974 and grew up on Funen. Since 2003, he has been employed in the Sønderjylland Symphony Orchestra's 2nd violin group and has also played in the orchestra's voluntary free Pro Musica concerts.

Jakob Elmedal was trained as a violinist from the Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen in 2001, but he has also studied for a year at St. Petersbook at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory 2001-2002 and in 1997-1998 he studied in Oslo with Terje Moe Hansen.

Before Jakob Elmedal came to Southern Jutland, he played in the Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and he also played viola in the Royal Chapel for a period of six months in the spring of 2007. Outside of playing the violin, he is a keen conductor and has conducted several amateur choirs and orchestras.

Jakob Elmedal lives in Sønderborg with his wife Ida, who is a doctor, and the couple's two children Magnus and Jonas.