The Ice Castle in SjøbygdaKunstnarhus,Selbu

It all seems just like a dream. The "Ice Castle" has come to life and we´ve had our first four performances. It has been a long and patient journey, where I have learnt to have to let go of everything called control. Challenging, yes, very challenging for me who always wants to have control:D .On monday the 5 th of March Ane Aass and I travelled up to Selbu to do some recordings of dialogs from the "Ice-Castle" with some amateur actors from Selbu and pupils aged 12/13. Marit Dalhø met us with waffles and coffee as we arrived at Bell School and shortly the pupills age 12/13 arrive exited and full og expectations. Working with them really inspired me, such energy so much laughter and fun and Ane did an amazing job with them. We got some great takes and did some good work with the adult actors too. At that moment and in time the hours of writing and sending off applications to get money to be able to do this project finally is starting to feel worth it. " I am so lucky, so much talent and what an amazing director I get to work with. I can´t wait untill thursday" were my thoughts. Then on wednesday night I got a sad and worrying phone call. The actress who is ment to play the part as Unn is ill. What do I do? Cancell the whole thing? Puspone it once again? Find another actress on such short notice? I call Tina and Ane and Tina suggests an actress Cathrine Brun who lives in Oslo. We (Marte Huke, Ane Aass, Tina Margaretha Nilssen and me) have a meeting at "VerdensBesteStasjon" on thursday morning. We decide to carry on with a new actress, Within a couple of hours I have booked a plane for Cathrine Brun and she is on her way to Trondheim. It all seems to crazy to be true. But I trust my instinct and the pianist Tina agrees that this person is right for this part. Thursday night Cathrine gets the script and we start blocking the first sene. Intense, we have very little time, eight days to form a very difficult symbolic play with many layers. Cathrine has eight days to learn it all. Can she do it? Also willl we be able to portray this book/film for such a wide age group grownups to 12/13 years olds. Is this possible? The director says this is madness "Gale Mathias"! But I still believe that it is possible. After the first day we have done a lot of good and brave work. I love the new actress Catrine Brun, such talent, such courage and so easy and free to work with. I leave work very inspired and relieved after the first day. Tina and my instinct was right, this was a wise choice .She was made for this part. We carry on our musical and stage work at "VerdensBesteStasjon" http://www.verdensbestestasjon.no/ in Trondheim the first weekend and on monday 12th of March we load up my little blue Toyota Corola and head towards Selbu. Our first stop is the local radio NeaRadio where we do a recording of some monologs and do a short interview. Then we head out to SjøbygdaKunstnarhus where we are going to work and live together until monday the 19th of March. The week is intense with long reheartsals, but we also have a lot of fun. The "Artists in residency" is just perfect. By Selbusjøen in the middle of the woods in a beautiful little school cottage "The Ice Castle" performance starts to take shape. The surroundings are so peaceful and gives us a break from the city life we normally lead. As one of us said " Fieldtrip, girlie time and time to do the work we love, perfect!" Because of heavy rain the road closes and we are closed off from the village for two days. But, we have everything we need and are so embraced in our work, that this doesn´t effect us much. I do have a slight worry for the public who are coming to see our performances, but manage to let go of these thoughts and focus on my work as an actress and singer instead. The week flies by and the three women who I didn´t know that well from before have become lovely new friends and great colleagues. So much laughter, so much fun:-) On the saturday of our first performance we do the final touches and changes in the script. Now i just pray that the public will like it! And they do! The house is full and people love the piece. We also have a good audience on the Sunday. Monday the school kids sit totally still and follow every move we make on the stage! After the performance we talk to them and get loads of possitive feedback.

We wish to take this performance to other venues such as this in Norway and who knows maybe we could take it elsewhere outside Norway with subtitles? I am so grateful and proud of this product. Such amazing music written by Eva Holm Foosnæs, Marte Huke has written an amazing script, Ane Aass has been such an inspiring director and done fantastic stage work and I have loved every minute on stage with Cathrine Brun and Tina Margaretha Nilssen. Wow, thank you so much guys! I am so so grateful.

Pictures: Kirsten Røsset, Nea Radio

An unrealistic dream becomes reality

For a longer length of time the "Ice Castle project" has seemed an unrealistic dream. The finances never seemed to come together. Artist found other work that was paid and it was challenging to keep the whole thing going. This autumn we got some more financial support and I decided to just go for it! I feel a bit crazy doing this, but at the same time it feels good. The music is written, the script has had its final touches, the costumes are ready and the director and actors have started to prepare individually. In March we are going to work and live together for an intense week before we have four performances. The venue is very intimate; it is in an old school called Eggaodden skole, built in 1891, used as a school until 1956. An artist called Elbjørg Raknes has redecorated it and it is now open for artists in residence. Artists can rent the place, live and work there and hold performances. Really looking forward to start the artistic work now. Never saw myself as a producer, but I have learnt a lot so far. The work has given me great insight in the theatrical freelance world and has made me very grateful. I can now see how much work people have done for me behind the scenes. So I can concentrate on the performance work a local theatre group and some volunteers will be helping me with the marketing, selling tickets and some of the administrative work. I am so grateful. Feel so lucky and cant wait to start working with the other performers Tina Margaretha Nilssen and Kathrine Strugstad and the director Ane Aas. The whole thing kicks off on the 8th of March with performances 17th - 19th of March! Very exciting

CONCERTS IN WALES

Being a singer isn't always easy. You often question if you are good enough. Always looking for perfection. Concerts such as these are such a good reminder of what making music and singing is all about. Enjoying yourself. Giving the audience a memory and bringing people together. I met so much kindness and people were so grateful. It was such a joy to sing with John again and I feel blessed that I am able to make a living out of my singing. Hope to return to the UK in the autumn and do some more concerts:)You never know in this buisness! Let the adventure begin!

FIRST REHEARSAL WITH MAHLER

Had a challenging day with these technical rehearsing, but although I at times find the whole thing tedious, there is a light inside me that keeps me going. It is such an amazing feeling when things just flow through your body effortless. These are moments that just keeps you going i guess. A singers world hey? The voice is a fascinating thing. Looking forward to the first Mahler rehearsal to day. The alto part isn´t that amazing on it´s own;) Great composer and fantastic piece of music! Feel lucky to be a part of this project!

Looking ahead

Found out that I had qualified, but that I didn´t get in to Norges Musikkhøgskole in Oslo.We were 15 singers who applied and they only needed one singer this year. Not everybody did qualify, so I am happy that i did, still a place there would have been fantastic. Very disappointed, but started to make other plans. Got a concert in Nidarosdomen and projects with TSO´s vocal ensemble in march. Sara Aimee Smiseth and I plan to do some concerts and maybe enter some duo competitions. John Mills and I have concerts in May and Rebecca Moon and I are having a concert in London in May.I just got to continue on working on my technique and do a lot of mental work. Never give up!

Audition in Oslo

A long period of preparation is over and I have started to look at Mahler and more solo repertoire. The audition for the Master degree on monday was a good experience, but I was a little bit to nervous. Did some silly mistakes, but also did a lot of good things. No matter what the result will be I have improved a lot through this process and intend to carry on working. I wish to develop my voices full potential and fulfill my dreams. You only live once!Think it plan it do it:-)

BAD BOYS CONCERT OLAVSHALLEN

A intense and exiting week has come to and end. I feel a bit sad, didn´t want it to come to an end. It was an amazing feeling to stand there on stage with Bryn, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and Garreth. Olavshallen was packed with people applauding loudly and shouting BRAVO almost after every number. I dream about standing in from of an audience in such a way. There is a lot of hard work behind such a career. I just got to keep at it, one step at the time, never give up. Bryn seemed like a friendly and down to earth person. He chatted a lot to the chorus and orchestra members. Both Garreth and Bryn seemed impressed with the chorus to. "I want to take you with me on tour" he said after our first rehearsal. "Yes please" we all shouted:) Hope he comes back to Trondheim again soon! Really looking forward to May and concerts in Wales with John now. This whole event brought back a lot of good memories. I miss my Welsh friends and lovely Wales..

FIRST REHEARSAL WITH BRYN TERFEL

Had our first rehearsal with Bryn Terfel and Trondheim Symfoni Orchestra to day :-)Feeling kind of proud to be part of this. He is such a great performer with such a natural voice. Can´t wait until tomorrows concert!

FIRST REHEARSAL WITH GARETH JONES

Had our first rehearsal with the Welsh conductor Gareth Jones to day. Musically things are now starting to take shape and I am really enjoying myself. Exited about tomorrows rehearsal when Bryn Terfel is going to rehearse with us for the first time. Suddenly the "Welsh woman" in me comes to life. Ha, I´m proud of my Welsh roots;-)

Great to see TSO members again

Then the first rehearsal for the Bryn Terfel concert is done. Great to see all the other members from TSO´s vocal ensemble again. Went quite well, but as always more work to be done.Counting days and minutes till fridays concert and first rehearsal with Gareth Jones on wednesday:)

The ice castle and concert with Bryn Terfel :)

Things are starting to take shape. Ingunn Ystad www.ingunnystad.com has made a poster/logo for the project and last weekend we made a short film around the project. Elisabeth Mathesson Solberg also confirmed that she wants to do the staging:-) Just up to me now to get all the financial things in to place. Next week I start working with Trondheim Symphony orchestras vocal ensemble on the Bryn Terfel concert. I am so exited! He is amazing and I feel so lucky to be part of this concert in Trondheim!

The ice castle

For almost a year and a half now I have been working on a project based on a Norwegian book by Tarjei Vesaas called "Isslottet", "The ice castle". It is a music theatre project between a dancer, singer, an actress, a writer and a composer. It started just as another project, but has become a personal journey for me. One who inspires me in a lot of my work is the writer Paulo Coelho and in one of his books he says; "When you meet people you learn, you hear. And sometimes you´re hearing yourself. You´re in front of a mirror. You´re seeing yourself better..."And working on this project has been like that. I have met all these people some have stayed with me for the whole journey others have taken different paths. But each and one of them has left a footprint in the sand and have taught me things. I am still working very hard to get enough money together to make this dream and project become a reality. But a lot has happened sibnce I started the script is written, a composer has written some music, a poster/logo has been made. And next weekend we are going to make a short film around one of the songs to give people a taste of what the show is going to be like. This week I had an exiting meeting with a light artist/stage designer who is going to take part in the short film and I have also had a meeting with a producer who is interested in taking some of my work load. I have a lot of other things on the go at the same time. From this autumn I have been working for Trondheim Symfoniorchestras Vocalensemble and this spring we are going to so a concert with Bryn Terfel, Mahler 8th Symphony and have an operagala. I have also decided to audition to do a master at Norges Musikkhøgskole. All exiting stuff and I will try and be better at keeping this page updated from now on.

April John Mills Concerts in Norway

It was really lovely to perform together with John again. Not only is he a great musician whom i can look up to and learn from, but he is a great team worker and such a joy to sing with. He is a man who is so warm, outgoing, caring, encouariging and he has become a dear friend. It was extra special to work on a piece with the actual composer and to perform his song for the first time during this mini tour. I fell in love with the piece and hope that we´ll be an opportunity to record it at some stage. We were both very content with the atmosphere and mood we managed create at the three concerts. We received good feedback and had good crowd of people in the audience. But I must say that I never would have managed to do these concerts without great help and support from trondheim guitar club, my parents, loving boyfriend and other sponsors. We are both so buisy and tied up this autumn that we woun´t be able to hold any concert, but we are both looking forward to fitting in concerts in the new year.

West side story

Taking part in the concert version of West Side Story under the summer song at Ringve was one of the biggest experiences I have had.. To get to sing Rosalia with world class singers sunch as Randi Stene and Solveig Kringlebotn, a fantastic Orchestra - Trondheim Symphony Orchestra - and a great conductor such as Benjamin Shwarz . Amazing. I learnt a lot and hope that there´ll be more opportunities like this in the future!

Qualified music teacher

Yes! Finally I have the papers! I can now say that I am officially a qualified singing teacher! It has been a tough year, both physically and psychologically. It is not easy to have dyslexia and have to write so many assignments and sit through so long lectures. Still I learnt a lot aboy myself and how the system works and I have grown as a person and performer this year. I loved watching the pupils grow and develop, and to see their faces full of satisfactury as they finally found the key and solved their problem. It was also very satisfactory to teach. You learn so much and I had a lot of positive feedback from both students and tutors. Still, I don´t think I am ready to teach 100%. I will have some students, but my main aim and mission is to perform at the moment.

AN EXITING 2009

It has been a very hectic and challenging autumn. I decided to take a one year music teaching degree in Trondheim, Norway aswell as keeping my freelance work going. Don’t really think that I realised how much hard work this would involve. It is not easy to market yourself, keeping up the singing practise, looking for singing work, aswell as writing assignments and reading for exams. I guess I managed to keep up everything apart from the marketing bit this autumn. But by June 2009 I will have completed my teaching qualifications and my one year marathon will be completedJ! I have some freelance work up and running for 2009, but Iit is barely enough and I wish that there was more. You never get to sing and perform enough! I love it, I really do! Very proud of the performances that I have done this year and I have really enjoyed myself! I have worked with so many talented and gifted artist and guided by actors and singing teachers who has been such an inspiration to me. The performing work has given me the energy to complete my studies, and the inspiration to continue my projects, freelance work and I have started to look for auditions and future singing work! Really looking forward to a bright and exiting 2009! One of my projects is a” mini tour” the 17- 19 of April in Norway with John Mills and I am preparing for some auditions and competitions for this autumn and in 2010.

YOUNG SOUNDS TEN YEAR JUBILEE

We were a proud team who celebrated our ten year jubilee for Young Sound this Christmas. It is fantastic that the youngsters have continued the tradition we started. There is so much talent in our village to take care of and I hope that it continues for several years to come!

OPERA TO THE PEOPLE!

We all had butterflies in our stomachs as we turned up for the sound check at Gallery Bjørkhov Saturday evening. What would the turn out be like? How many would dare to take the big step into the world of opera? For those who did, would they enjoy themselves?
Gradually the seats started to fill up. The clock struck eight they had ordered their meals and beers and the show was about to begin!
It turned out to be a delightful evening both for the performers and the audience. We sang through some of the well know opera pearls to highlights of the musical world. We danced around the room, fought like cats and smashed cutlery in anger and frustration. We gave our all, leaving some people speechless and others smiling! The Gallery was buzzing! What an amazing evening! The hosts of Gallery Bjørkhov were fantastic and so pleased! It was so much fun and I felt privileged to work with such a talented bunch of performers! We all hope that this will be a regular event in the future!

Who knows what the future might bring?

My trip over to the UK in March was really nice. I caught up with a lot of good friends in Wales and London along the way and recorded a demo. Met up with an excellent coach and took part in a Master class!

First of all I headed towards Wales and Cardiff where I stayed with my lovely friends Carol and Tony Olavssen and finally got to record a demo with John Mills. It was great to work with such an amazing musician once again and we are now planning concerts for 2008/09.

After a couple of days in Cardiff I headed off up to London were I caught up with some close friends and had a coaching lesson with Adrian Hobbs. Adrian always inspires me. I just realised how much I love this way of working and how much I miss my close friends.

On the Saturday I took part in a Master class with William Relton. It was very enjoyable and fun to get input in stage craft once again! It is always interesting to see what different societies have to offer when it comes to workshops/Master classes, and to get the opportunity to work with people such as William Relton with such great expertise. The last hour of the Master class we had audition training. Here the group of ten singers was divided in to two groups. Each group sat in the panel and auditioned. Afterwards we gave each other feedback. I prefer being up there singing and doing, but you learn a great deal watching others too! It was also good to hear what people actually look for in an audition.

It was with a heavy heart that I left London on the following day. I just wanted more; I wasn’t ready to leave just yet. Who knows maybe I’ll come back again in the very near future?

William Relton
worked as an actor from 1971. He gained his first experience of opera as both director and singer with Musical Theatre London in the early 90s. He worked at English National Opera and Opera North as Assistant Director on many productions. Since 1993 he has been in much demand as director in the UK and Europe. For ENO he has directed La Boheme and The Barber of Seville; he has also directed for Dorset Opera, British Youth Opera, RSAMD, Royal Academy of Music, Kongelig TEater, Copenhagen, London Handel Opera at the RCM, L’Opera de Nice, DRottningholm Theatre, Sweden, and the Staatstheater Darmstadt where he is working again this autumn.

Its Christmastime

Five Christmas shows have come to an end and finally I might start thinking of buying Christmas presents and Christmas cards. Its Christmas time is a show staging a blend of Christmas entertainment, Christmas Carols, folk music, stand up comedians, highlights from the opera world, musical highlights, rock enroll, funk and soul. I am honored to be part of such a show and what an experience! I finally got to sing one of my favorite opera numbers Habanera from Bizet’s Carmen with a big band! This year I represented the Opera Diva, but I hope that if I get the chance to take part again next year, I might get the opportunity to also sing some musical numbers. You never know though, there are a lot of talented people out there just waiting for the chance to jump in and take your place. Personally I think that is a very good thing, it keeps you on your toes and makes you focus on ways you can improve as a performer. However there has been a lot of positive feedback and we’ve had great audiences. Thank you for all your support!