I have become part of a very special team in Norway headed up by the amazing Andreas Sønning of the Norwegian Academy of Music Oslo, Nick Long from Southampton University, and Rod Udo from Utrecht University of Applied Science and galvanized by the inspirational leadership of Randi Margrethe Eidsaa of the University of Agder. This team is really quite exceptional. They really know their subject and understand the importance of the student experience. We have worked together since 2018 and the chemistry generated by our different approaches and philosophies have, I believe, created something special - creative-collisions at their best!
At both universities in Oslo and Agder we were involved with students in the program for “Musikkformidling” / Musical Entrepreneurship Program. The program ranged from concert dramaturgy centred on stage programs, production methodology and building value chains, to the importance of design and the business of entrepreneurship including finance and fundraising. The students in each year have been first rate and took every challenge we threw.
Then there were performance projects at Agder which I helped to direct as well as perform in. In 2018 it was the story of the British naturalist Marianne North in a production involving narration, music, and video, beautifully conceived and written by The Dean of the Department, Randi Margrethe Eidsaa. Somehow the project managed to capture in its story of an exceptional and determined 19th century woman, so many of our contemporary issues: climate change, endangered species and the need for respect and tolerance that we should all show. The juxtaposition of words, narration and music brought this together in the most meaningful way. And if there is one moment that will always stay with me it’s the Phil Collins song immersed in a truly avant-garde piano piece by Konrad Øhrn. This was another example of Randi’s inspiration borne of her intellectual curiosity, which made for me such a breath-taking discovery!
And in 2019 it was the turn of the Silk Road, again in a production created by Randi based upon the work of the 17th century Turkish travel writer Evliyâ Celebi with music, narration and video chosen from the many centuries and the thousands of miles of the Silk Road. It’s the story of cultural discovery.
To be invited to be an integral part of both productions was a privilege and a great joy shared by the many students who took part. I really thought of these projects as life changing experiences.
Left to right: Rod Udo, Andreas Sønning, Nick Long and myself
