51 Notable Alumni of the Norwegian Academy of Music

Ola Gjeilo

Born in: Norway
Years: 1978-.. (age 47)
Enrolled in the Norwegian Academy of Music: Studied in 1999-2001
Occupations: composerclassical pianistpianist
Biography: Ola Gjeilo is a Norwegian composer and pianist in the United States.

Jannike Kruse

Born in: Norway
Years: 1975-.. (age 50)
Occupations: voice actorjazz musiciansingeractor
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: composerfilm score composer
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 43)
Occupations: composerjazz guitaristguitaristjazz musician
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.

Aslak Hartberg

Born in: Norway
Years: 1975-.. (age 50)
Occupations: jazz musicianrapper
Biography: Aslak Rakli Hartberg alias Alis, is a Norwegian rapper and bass player, and was the leading figure in the Norwegian hip hop band Klovner i Kamp. He is the brother of cartoonist Flu Hartberg.

Solveig Kringlebotn

Born in: Norway
Years: 1963-.. (age 62)
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: actorsinger
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 42)
Occupations: opera singerperforming artist
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 46)
Occupations: jazz musiciansingeractor
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 79)
Occupations: composerprofessor
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 48)
Occupations: jazz musicianconductorsingerchoir directorvoice 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 62)
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: musiciancomposerconductorchoir director
Biography: Leif Solberg was a Norwegian classical composer and organist.

Frode Haltli

Born in: Norway
Years: 1975-.. (age 50)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
Biography: Frode Haltli, is a Norwegian accordion player.

Madden

Born in: Norway
Years: 1989-.. (age 36)
Occupations: musicianrecord producer
Biography: Marius Ygre 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 37)
Occupations: singerjazz 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 41)
Occupations: composerjazz musiciansinger
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 39)
Occupations: composerjazz musicianpianist
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 76)
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.

Maja S. K. Ratkje

Born in: Norway
Years: 1973-.. (age 52)
Occupations: composermusiciansinger
Biography: Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje is a Norwegian vocalist and composer. She plays on vocals and elektronics instruments.

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 51)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
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.

Tabita Berglund

Born in: Norway
Years: 1989-.. (age 36)
Occupations: conductorcellist
Biography: Ingrid Tabita Borghild Berglund is a Norwegian conductor and cellist.

Eivind Opsvik

Born in: Norway
Years: 1973-.. (age 52)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
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 40)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
Biography: Ellen Brekken is a Norwegian jazz musician who plays upright bass, bass guitar, and the tuba. She is also a composer.

Lisa Dillan

Born in: Norway
Years: 1969-.. (age 56)
Occupations: singer
Biography: Lisa Dillan is a Norwegian jazz vocalist.

Even Skatrud

Born in: Norway
Years: 1977-.. (age 48)
Occupations: recording artistjazz musiciancomposer
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 38)
Occupations: composerjazz musiciansaxophonist
Biography: Harald Lassen is a Norwegian jazz musician, songwriter, and bandleader. In addition to being the front man of LASSEN, he has played with several other bands, including DUPLEX, Mopti (with Bendik Baksaas on the album Bits & Pieces), Pixel, and No. 4. Early on, he was drawn to the attention of musicians like drummer Jon Christensen and bassist Arild Andersen.

Sigurd Hole

Born in: Norway
Years: 1981-.. (age 44)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
Biography: Sigurd Hole is a Norwegian jazz musician (upright bass) from Rendalen living in Oslo.

Ellen Nisbeth

Born in: Sweden
Years: 1987-.. (age 38)
Occupations: violistmusician
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.

Rolf-Erik Nystrøm

Born in: Norway
Years: 1975-.. (age 50)
Occupations: composermusiciansaxophonist
Biography: Rolf-Erik Nystrøm is a Norwegian saxophonist and composer in the field of contemporary music.

Trygve Waldemar Fiske

Born in: Norway
Years: 1987-.. (age 38)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
Biography: Trygve Waldemar Fiske is a Norwegian jazz musician (upright bass), known from different Norwegian jazz bands and recordings.

Jo Berger Myhre

Born in: Norway
Years: 1984-.. (age 41)
Occupations: composerjazz musiciansinger
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 45)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
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 48)
Occupations: composerjazz musicianrecord producer
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. He was born in Eidsdal.

Yngve Slettholm

Years: 1955-.. (age 70)
Occupations: composermusicologistconductor
Biography: Yngve Slettholm is a Norwegian cultural executive, politician for the Christian Democratic Party and Salvationist.

Jo Skaansar

Born in: Norway
Years: 1984-.. (age 41)
Occupations: double-bassistmusiciancomposerpsychologist
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 60)
Occupations: musician
Biography: Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen is a Norwegian percussion and cimbalom player,

Christian Skår Winther

Born in: Norway
Years: 1989-.. (age 36)
Occupations: jazz guitaristjazz musiciancomposer
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.

Trude Eick

Born in: Norway
Years: 1969-.. (age 56)
Occupations: horn playermusiciancomposerjazz 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.

Malika Makouf Rasmussen

Born in: Algeria
Years: 1965-.. (age 60)
Occupations: composerpercussionistguitaristjazz bassistmusic executive
Biography: Malika Makouf Rasmussen is a Norwegian/Algerian/French composer, musician, music producer, curator and philosopher.

Roger Arntzen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1976-.. (age 49)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
Biography: Roger Arntzen is a Norwegian jazz bassist, known from playing in bands like In the Country (trio), In the Country with Knut Reiersrud and Solveig Slettahjell, Ballrogg, Chrome Hill, One Small Step, John-Kåre Hansen Northern Concept and previously also with Håvard Stubø Trio and the band Østenfor Sol. Through his projects he has worked with downtown NYC icon Marc Ribot, Bob Hoffnar, Josh Abrams, Toto Alvarez, BJ Cole, Michiyo Yagi, Tamaya Honda, Noritaka Tanaka, Tetuzi Akiyama, Neil Metcalfe, Terry Day, John Russell, Frode Grytten, Susanna Wallumrød, Frida Ånnevik, Tore Brunborg, Stian Carstensen, Bugge Wesseltoft, Mathias Eick, Odd Riisnæs, Lars Klevstrand, Moddi, Thomas Dybdahl, Steinar Ofsdal, Kari Svendsen, Jon Arne Corell, Alf Cranner, Göran Fristorp among others.

Steinar Nickelsen

Born in: Norway
Years: 1978-.. (age 47)
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.

Jonas Howden Sjøvaag

Born in: Germany
Years: 1978-.. (age 47)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
Biography: Jonas Howden Sjøvaag is a Norwegian jazz drummer.

Jakop Janssønn

Born in: Norway
Years: 1986-.. (age 39)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
Biography: Jakop Filip Janssønn Hauan is a Norwegian jazz musician (drums and electronics).

Ketil Gutvik

Born in: Norway
Years: 1972-.. (age 53)
Occupations: jazz guitaristjazz musiciancomposer
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 37)
Occupations: drummer
Biography: Andreas Wildhagen is a Norwegian jazz drummer.

Magnus Nergaard

Born in: Norway
Years: 1989-.. (age 36)
Occupations: composerjazz musician
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 39)
Occupations: jazz guitaristjazz musician
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 48)
Occupations: jazz guitaristmusiciancomposer
Biography: Asbjørn Erlend Lerheim is a Norwegian jazz guitarist and music educator.