Henrik Ødegaard was born in Oslo 28.07.1955. After studying the bass trombone and church music he studied composition with Lasse Thoresen at the Norwegian State Academy of Music and with Tristan Keuris at the Utrecht Conservatorium in Holland as well as studies in the ”Gregorian chant class” at the National Conservatory in Paris with Louis-Marie Vigne as main teacher. During the studies in France Ødegaard was a singing member of Choeur grégorien de Paris A substantial propotion of Ødegaard´s works are composed for the church. Residing in Telemark puts Ødegaard in the centre of a vital folk-music scene – a musical heritage that has proved to play an increasing part of the composers approximation process towards folk music. Ødegaard has devoted much work focusing on the hardanger fiddle. Ødegaard has also composed major works for brass ensemble, many solo songs and a great number of choir pieces using material and esthetics from Gregorian chant. Ødegaards music has been performed in all scandinavian countries as well as in Estonia, Latvia, Poland, The Czech Republic, Hungaria, Italy, France, England, Ireland, South-Africa, Japan og USA. In 2009 he was the festival composer at The Fartein Valen Festival, as well as recieving the Farten Valen scholarship. 1981-2006 he was organist/choir conductor in Sauherad community, Telemark, Norway. From 2006 he is full-time composer. Artist photos: Dag Jenssen, Geir Dokken and Tone Carlsen