Tengstrand started to play the piano at age 6, being taught by his mother.
He entered the Malmö Academy of Music at age 16, in the class of Hans Pålsson.
He continued private studies with Dominique Weber and Romuald Sztern to prepare for international piano competitions.
Per Tengstrand lives in Princeton, NJ with his wife Shan-shan Sun.
In 2005, he was decorated by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden with the Royal Medal Litteris et Artibus for outstanding service to the arts.