Musician
Early in life, I’m reported to have stated that I’d never be a musician like my parents. But I did learn to read music, and when my mother taught me some basic keyboard technique in 1999 I was “lost” almost immediately. I proceeded, with no formal lessons, but with a mother who would strategically place “suitable” pieces at the piano or harpsichord for me to “discover”. For the first couple of years, it most have sounded rather horrible as I ploughed through piece after piece, the one more out of my reach than the other. In August 2002, however, I was able to play Bach’s great Fantasia in G minor for organ acceptably (you may listen to the recording yourself, at the performances page), and two months later I played for my first church service.
My focus gradually turned from the harpsichord to the organ, the piano always as my second instrument. I took every opportunity to participate in festivals and seminars, and joined the mailing lists PIPORG-L and PipeChat. These, together with my always supportive parents and a school that eventually found it wise to let me pursue my interests freely (which often meant going to see and play an organ instead of attending classes), made a reasonably good alternative to the usual “teacher”.
In 2008, I was admitted to and commenced studies of church music at the Norwegian Academy of Music (NMH) in Oslo, with Terje Winge as my organ teacher. The Academy generally surpassed my expectations by far — teachers, fellow students, and facilities were all top notch. However, the very comprehensive curriculum (much more demanding, in my experience, than language studies at university) demanded full-time attention for several months at a time, which I found I was neither prepared nor able to provide, so I quit after the first term. It was by no means an easy decision, yet I’m glad I made it. My goal was never to be a “professional musician”, but rather to develop my abilities in music and other fields as far as possible, for my own enjoyment and hopefully also for others.
I gave my first recital in Stavanger Cathedral in July 2005, which has since been followed by several solo appearances in Norway and England. I try to communicate the joy of performing by presenting varied and listener-friendly programmes, ranging from the masterworks of Bach to exciting modern pieces such as Mons Leidvin Takle’s Blues Toccata. I also have some experience playing the organ in larger settings, such as Faure’s Requiem with choir and orchestra as well as baroque continuo parts.
