King's Trophy and top placements in Landskappleiken

From 26 to 30 June, it was time for one of the annual highlights of folk music: Landskappleiken (The National Competition in folk music and dance) in Gol.

After a quick look at the results, there was no doubt that NMH was strongly represented by current students, staff, and alumni dating back to the 1990s.

The musicians associated with NMH come not only from the folk music programme but also from, for example, classical percussion and the music education programme. You can also find former students who have pursued continuing studies at NMH in everything from live electronics to arts management. Folk music is present in more places than many might think.

It was – perhaps not so surprisingly considering her results in recent years – Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen who won the top spot in vocals, class A. She holds both a Bachelor and a Master degree in folk singing from NMH, having completed the latter last year.

She seems almost shocked when we ask her what she thinks about the victory:

– It's such an incredible honor to be awarded a King's Trophy, she writes in a text message, praising her competitors: – There was so much fantastic singing to hear both in the competition and in the final, so it's quite surreal for me to take the trophy home.

Open class

The group Hekate, with Brøndbo Plassen and NMH student Malin Alander and Silje Risdal Liahagen, also won first place in the open class. Liahagen teaches folk music at the Academy.

Another person who responds with many exclamation marks is Unni Løvlid, Associate Professor and programme coordinater for folk music at NMH:

– I am so deeply moved by all the students who participated in the competition this year in playing, singing, dancing, and everything else. They are so diverse, and each one has the strength to just focus on their own thing.

She writes that she has always been afraid that students would end up being too similar when they pursue an education at an institution like NMH.

– But this concern is thoroughly disproven by these fantastic young people who are emerging now, Unni believes.

– I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to work with them and, together with colleagues, accompany them for a few years on their artistic journey. It's powerful to experience that students from various disciplines at NMH participated – it touches me and speaks volumes about the open culture we have at NMH now, she concludes.