Senior Advisor, Norwegian Academy of Music

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

I grew up in a suburb of Oslo, just a couple of streets from where I now live with my husband and two children. Growing up, I was always juggling football and music, and many of my life choices have been made very last minute and on a gut feeling. That I should continue to study music was not a given, but I have never regretted it. Many years later I have now reclaimed music as a hobby and I enjoy playing saxophone in a big band on my spare time.

WHAT IS YOUR PATH TO THE CURRENT POSITION?

I've been teaching saxophone and conducting wind bands since I was 15 years old and after I finished my Master's Degree in Music Education at NMH I was ready to do something a little different. I spent two years teaching in southern Africa and when I returned to Norway in 2013, I decided to switch careers. I applied to anything I could find remotely interesting, but the Norwegian Academy of Music was the only place that would hire someone for an administrative position who had only been teaching music(!). I started off coordinating the Academy's QA-processes, and in 2016 I got the position as IRC, popularly called "The New Knut".

WHAT IS YOUR PASSION IN YOUR JOB?

What I love most about my job is that it combines three things I’m very passionate about: music, education, and international relations. I have not yet been able to come across a job that allows me to combine these three passions. I love bringing people together, laying the grounds for students and teachers to meet, collaborate and learn from each other. I have the best team working with me in our International Office and in the NMH study administration, and having great colleagues should be appreciated every day.