49 Notable Alumni of the Norwegian Academy of Music

Ola Gjeilo

Born in: Norway
Years: 1978-.. (age 46)
Enrolled in the Norwegian Academy of Music: Studied in 1999-2001
Occupations: pianistclassical pianistcomposer
Biography: Ola Gjeilo is a Norwegian composer and pianist, living in the United States.

Jannike Kruse

Born in: Norway
Years: 1975-.. (age 49)
Occupations: jazz musicianvoice actoractorsinger
Biography: Jannike Kruse is a Norwegian singer, artist and actor. Daughter of Professor and composer Bjørn Howard Kruse and Professor and author Gro Shetelig, sister of Anine and Benedikte Kruse known from the vocal group Pitsj, niece to Philip Antony Kruse and grand child of Colonel Erling Kruse, as well as teacher in music and piano Else Grieg Shetelig.

Arne Nordheim

Born in: Norway
Years: 1931-2010 (aged 79)
Occupations: film score composercomposer
Biography: Arne Nordheim was a Norwegian composer. Nordheim received numerous awards for his compositions, and from 1982 lived in the Norwegian government's honorary residence, Grotten, next to the Royal Palace in Oslo. He was elected an honorary member of the International Society for Contemporary Music in 1997. On 18 August 2006, Arne Nordheim received a doctor honoris causa degree at the Norwegian Academy of Music. He died at the age of 78 and was given a state funeral.

Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1982-.. (age 42)
Occupations: jazz guitaristcomposerjazz musicianguitarist
Biography: Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen is a Norwegian guitarist, vocalist and composer. She is known for a series of album releases and collaborations with musicians like Jon Eberson, Jarle Bernhoft and Hilde Marie Kjersem.

Solveig Kringlebotn

Born in: Norway
Years: 1963-.. (age 61)
Enrolled in the Norwegian Academy of Music: Studied in 1982-1984
Occupations: opera singer
Biography: Solveig Kringlebotn, better known outside Norway as Solveig Kringelborn, is an internationally known Norwegian operatic soprano.

Lalla Carlsen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1889-1967 (aged 78)
Occupations: singeractor
Biography: Lalla Carlsen was a Norwegian singer and actress. She is regarded as one of the most legendary female revue artists in Norway.

Mari Eriksmoen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1983-.. (age 41)
Occupations: performing artistopera singer
Biography: Mari Eriksmoen is a Norwegian soprano and opera singer with a repertoire including roles for coloratura soprano and lyric soprano

Benedikte Shetelig Kruse

Born in: Norway
Years: 1979-.. (age 45)
Occupations: actorsingerjazz musician
Biography: Benedikte Shetelig Kruse is a Norwegian singer and actor, daughter of Professor of music, Gro Shetelig Kruse, and the Composer Bjørn Kruse. She is the sister of actress and singers Jannike and Anine Kruse.

Bjørn Kruse

Born in: United Kingdom
Years: 1946-.. (age 78)
Occupations: professorcomposer
Biography: Bjørn Howard Kruse is a Norwegian painter and composer. He is also professor of composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.

Anine Kruse

Born in: Norway
Years: 1977-.. (age 47)
Occupations: choir directorsingerconductorjazz musicianvoice actor
Biography: Anine Susanne Kruse Skatrud is a Norwegian musician and choral conductor, the daughter of Professor of Music Gro Shetelig and the composer Bjørn Kruse, sister of actress and singers Jannike and Benedikte Kruse, and married to trombonist and bandleader Even Skatrud Andersen.

Jens Petter Antonsen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1963-.. (age 61)
Occupations: musician
Biography: Jens Petter Antonsen is a Norwegian musician (trumpet), known studio musician from a large number of recordings and television shows. He is the son of bandleader Odd R. Antonsen, and brother of musicians Ole Edvard and Tom Erik Antonsen.

Leif Solberg

Born in: Norway
Years: 1914-2016 (aged 102)
Occupations: conductorcomposermusicianchoir director
Biography: Leif Solberg was a Norwegian classical composer and organist.

Frode Haltli

Born in: Norway
Years: 1975-.. (age 49)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Frode Haltli, is a Norwegian accordion player.

Marius Njølstad

Born in: Norway
Years: 1989-.. (age 35)
Occupations: record producermusician
Biography: Marius Njølstad, professionally known as Madden, is a Norwegian singer, songwriter and producer. He started his solo career in 2016, when he signed with Warner Music Norway.

Natalie Sandtorv

Born in: Norway
Years: 1988-.. (age 36)
Occupations: singermusicianjazz musician
Biography: Natalie Sandtorv is a Norwegian jazz musician (vocals, waterphone, harmonium, electronics) married July 29, 2016, to drummer Ole Mofjell, residing in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Anja Eline Skybakmoen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1984-.. (age 40)
Occupations: singerjazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Anja Eline Skybakmoen is a Norwegian jazz singer, composer and band leader, the younger sister of guitarist Jonas Skybakmoen, and married 31 July 2014, to the guitarist David Aleksander Sjølie.

Ayumi Tanaka

Born in: Japan
Years: 1986-.. (age 38)
Occupations: pianistjazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Ayumi Tanaka is a Japanese pianist and composer, known for numerous albums with Norwegian and international jazz musicians.

Lasse Thoresen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1949-.. (age 75)
Occupations: composer
Biography: Lasse Thoresen is a Norwegian composer whose works concentrate on a contemporary transformation of the folk-music traditions of many peoples, especially those of Scandinavia.

Torstein Grythe

Years: 1918-2009 (aged 91)
Occupations: conductor
Biography: Torstein Eliot Berg Grythe was a Norwegian choir leader.

Knut Aalefjær

Born in: Norway
Years: 1974-.. (age 50)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Knut Aalefjær is a Norwegian jazz musician (drums and percussion), and composer, educated at the Norwegian Academy of Music. He is known as an eminent drummer who provide significant contributions in the Helge Lien Trio, the band Geir Lysne Listening Ensemble, with the vocalist Live Maria Roggen, the band of Kristin Asbjørnsen (known from Dadafon, Krøyt, and Nymark Collective), and many others.

Maja S. K. Ratkje

Born in: Norway
Years: 1973-.. (age 51)
Occupations: singermusiciancomposer
Biography: Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje is a Norwegian vocalist and composer. She plays on vocals and elektronics instruments.

Lisa Dillan

Born in: Norway
Years: 1969-.. (age 55)
Occupations: singer
Biography: Lisa Dillan is a Norwegian jazz vocalist.

Eivind Opsvik

Born in: Norway
Years: 1973-.. (age 51)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Eivind Opsvik is a Norwegian jazz musician (upright bass) and composer, the son of the Norwegian interior and furniture designer Peter Opsvik.

Ellen Brekken

Born in: Norway
Years: 1985-.. (age 39)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Ellen Brekken is a Norwegian jazz musician who plays upright bass, bass guitar, and the tuba.

Even Skatrud

Born in: Norway
Years: 1977-.. (age 47)
Occupations: recording artistcomposermusicianjazz musician
Biography: Even Kruse Skatrud lecturer at the University of Oslo, a Norwegian Jazz musician, composer, Music arranger and Orchestra leader. He is the son of musician Harry Andersen and Marit Skatrud Andersen, married to singer-artist Anine Kruse Skatrud and son-in-law of the major Norwegian Contemporary composer Bjørn Kruse (b. 1946).

Sverre Valen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1925-2023 (aged 98)
Occupations: conductor
Biography: Sverre Valen was a Norwegian choir conductor. He founded and directed Sandefjord Girls Choir (Sandefjord Jentekor), Bel Canto-koret, the Valen Choir (Valen-koret) and Valens Solistensemble, many of which have won awards and toured internationally. He became Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1992.

Harald Lassen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1987-.. (age 37)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposersaxophonist
Biography: Harald Lassen is a Norwegian jazz musician, composer, and band leader. He leads the band LASSEN, and has also been a member of Pixel, Mopti (feat. Bendik Baksaas on the album Bits & Pieces), No. 4, Dr. Kay And His Interstellar Tone Scientists, and DUPLEX. He gained attention at an early age by musicians such as bass player, Arild Andersen and drummer, Jon Christensen. He has collaborated with Bugge Wesseltoft, Morten Qvenild, Emilie Stoesen Christensen, Tord Gustavsen, Bram De Looze, Corrie Dick, Arthur Kay, Ellen Andrea Wang, Anja Lauvdal, Rob Waring, Mathias Eick, Ray Phiri, Mohamed Issa Matona, and LABtrio.

Sigurd Hole

Born in: Norway
Years: 1981-.. (age 43)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Sigurd Hole is a Norwegian jazz musician (upright bass) from Rendalen living in Oslo.

Ellen Nisbeth

Born in: Sweden
Years: 1987-.. (age 37)
Occupations: musicianviolist
Biography: Ellen Nisbeth is a Swedish violist. She performed on Britta Byström’s CD, “Invisible Cities” and on Ensemble Ernst’s CD, “...BUT...” As part of the European Concert Hall Organisation's "Rising Star" program, Nisbeth performed "Tales Of Lost Times" for solo viola by Katarina Leyman and other works by Kaija Saariaho at Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall in January 2018.

Trygve Waldemar Fiske

Born in: Norway
Years: 1987-.. (age 37)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Trygve Waldemar Fiske is a Norwegian jazz musician (upright bass), known from different Norwegian jazz bands and recordings.

Rolf-Erik Nystrøm

Born in: Norway
Years: 1975-.. (age 49)
Occupations: musiciancomposersaxophonist
Biography: Rolf-Erik Nystrøm is a Norwegian saxophonist and composer in the field of contemporary music.

Jo Berger Myhre

Born in: Norway
Years: 1984-.. (age 40)
Occupations: singerjazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Jo Berger Myhre is a Norwegian upright bassist, known from performing with the likes of Splashgirl, Blokk 5, Ingrid Olava, Solveig Slettahjell Slow Motion Quintet and Finland: Grydeland/Qvenild/Hausken/Myhre. As a member of the Nils Petter Molvær Quartet (since 2013) he is performing as a bass guitarist and has contributed to two albums, Switch (2014) and Buoyancy (2016), to the last even as a co-producer.

Pål Hausken

Born in: Norway
Years: 1980-.. (age 44)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Pål Hausken is a Norwegian jazz musician (drums and percussion), most known from bands like the jazz trio In The Country where he plays together with Morten Qvenild and Roger Arntzen, but also for his collaboration with artists like Susanna Wallumrød, Bull of the Year, Zahl and Music for a While together with Tora Augestad.

Ole Jørn Myklebust

Born in: Norway
Years: 1977-.. (age 47)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Ole Jørn Myklebust is a Norwegian Jazz musician (trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals), educated at the Norges Musikkhøgskole. Known for performing in Subtonic, Køhn/Johansen Sextet, Geir Lysne Listening Ensemble, Østenfor Sol and Dixi, Myklebust has collaborated with Mari Boine and Unni Wilhelmsen.

Yngve Slettholm

Years: 1955-.. (age 69)
Occupations: musicologistcomposerconductor
Biography: Yngve Slettholm is a Norwegian cultural executive, politician for the Christian Democratic Party and Salvationist.

Jo Skaansar

Born in: Norway
Years: 1984-.. (age 40)
Occupations: composermusiciandouble-bassistpsychologist
Biography: Jo Fougner Skaansar is a Norwegian jazz bassist, composer and clinical psychologist from Lillehammer.

Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1965-.. (age 59)
Occupations: musician
Biography: Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen, also known as HKKS, is a Norwegian percussion and cimbalom player,

Malika Makouf Rasmussen

Born in: Algeria
Years: 1965-.. (age 59)
Occupations: guitaristpercussionistcomposermusic executivejazz bassist
Biography: Malika Makouf Rasmussen is a Norwegian/Algerian/French composer, musician, music producer, curator and philosopher.

Trude Eick

Born in: Norway
Years: 1969-.. (age 55)
Occupations: composermusicianhorn playerjazz musician
Biography: Trude Eick is a Norwegian musician (French horn and electronics) and composer, known from different forms of music, in which she plays regular repertoire as well as free improvisation. She is the sister of musicians Mathias Eick and Johannes Eick.

Steinar Nickelsen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1978-.. (age 46)
Occupations: jazz musician
Biography: Steinar Sønk Nickelsen is a Norwegian jazz musician (Hammond organ and piano) from Bærum, known from several bands and album releases.

Roger Arntzen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1976-.. (age 48)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Roger Arntzen is a Norwegian jazz bassist, known from playing in bands like In The Country, Ballrogg, Chrome Hill and Håvard Stubø Trio. He has also previously played within the band Østenfor Sol.

Christian Skår Winther

Born in: Norway
Years: 1989-.. (age 35)
Occupations: jazz musicianjazz guitaristcomposer
Biography: Christian Skår Winther is a Norwegian musician (guitar) and the older brother of jazz drummer Andreas Skår Winther (b. 1991), known from bands like Monkey Plot, Listen to Girl, Ich Bin N!ntendo and Torg.

Jonas Howden Sjøvaag

Born in: Germany
Years: 1978-.. (age 46)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Jonas Howden Sjøvaag is a Norwegian jazz drummer.

Jakop Janssønn

Born in: Norway
Years: 1986-.. (age 38)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Jakop Filip Janssønn Hauan is a Norwegian jazz musician (drums and electronics).

Ketil Gutvik

Born in: Norway
Years: 1972-.. (age 52)
Occupations: jazz musicianjazz guitaristcomposer
Biography: Ketil Gutvik is a Norwegian jazz musician (guitar) known on the Oslo's jazz scene since 1992.

Andreas Wildhagen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1988-.. (age 36)
Occupations: drummer
Biography: Andreas Wildhagen is a Norwegian jazz drummer.

Magnus Skavhaug Nergaard

Born in: Norway
Years: 1989-.. (age 35)
Occupations: jazz musiciancomposer
Biography: Magnus Skavhaug Nergaard is a Norwegian Jazz musician (upright bass & bass guitar), known from bands like Monkey Plot, Mummu, Ronja and Ich Bin N!ntendo.

Lars Ove Fossheim

Born in: Norway
Years: 1986-.. (age 38)
Occupations: jazz musicianjazz guitarist
Biography: Lars Ove Stene Fossheim is a Norwegian jazz guitarist from Volda, known from bands like Broen, Skadedyr, Snøskred, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Your Headlights Are On.

Asbjørn Lerheim

Born in: Norway
Years: 1977-.. (age 47)
Occupations: musicianjazz guitaristcomposer
Biography: Asbjørn Erlend Lerheim is a Norwegian jazz guitarist and music educater.