Ola Gjeilo

Ola Gjeilo was born on May 5, 1978, to Inge and Anne-May Gjeilo, and grew up in Skui, Norway. He began playing piano and composing when he was five years old and learned to read music when he was seven years old.[4] Gjeilo studied classical composition with Wolfgang Plagge.[4] In his undergraduate career, Gjeilo studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music (1999–2001), transferred to the Juilliard School (2001), and studied at the Royal College of Music, London (2002–2004) to receive a bachelor's degree in composition.[5] He continued his education at Juilliard (2004–06) where he received his master's degree in 2006, also in composition. From 2009–10, Gjeilo was composer-in-residence for Phoenix Chorale.[4]

He currently resides in Manhattan, working as a freelance composer. He is currently composer-in-residence with DCINY [6] and Albany Pro Musica.[7]

Sunrise Mass

Orchestrated for strings and choir.[8]

Dreamweaver

Written for choir, piano, and string orchestra. The text is set from a popular medieval ballad from Norway, Draumkvedet, translated into English by Charles Anthony Silvestri, one of his regular collaborators.[9]

The River

For choir, piano and string quartet. Composed for the 2016 Brock Commission, awarded from the American Choral Directors Association.[10][11]

Note: Piano performed by Ola Gjeilo on all albums.

Choral:

• Winter Songs (Decca Classics, 2017) (with Choir of Royal Holloway and 12 Ensemble)[12]
• Ola Gjeilo (Decca Classics, 2016) (with Voces8, Tenebrae, and the Chamber Orchestra of London)[13]
• Northern Lights (Chandos, 2012) (with the Phoenix Chorale)[14]

Piano:

• Night (Decca, 2020)[15]
• Piano Improvisations (2L, 2012)[16]
• Stone Rose (2L, 2007)[17]

• Official website
• Member of the Norwegian Society of Composers