Ola Gjeilo Explained

Ola Gjeilo
Birth Date:	1978 5, mf=yes
Birth Place:	Skui, Bærum, Norway

Ola Gjeilo (^[1] in Norwegian ˈûːlɑ ˈjæ̀ɪlʊ/; born May 5, 1978) is a Norwegian composer and pianist, living in the United States.^[2]

He writes choral music, and has written for piano and wind symphony, publishing through Walton Music, Edition Peters, and Boosey and Hawkes.^{[2] [3]}

Biography

Ola Gjeilo was born 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 to 2010, 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]

Major compositions

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]}

Discography

Note: Piano performed by Ola Gjeilo on all albums.

Choral:

• Dreamweaver (Universal Music, 2023) (with The Choir of Royal Holloway & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Rupert Gough)
• Winter Songs (Decca Classics, 2017) (with Choir of Royal Holloway and 12 Ensemble)^{[12] [13]}
• Ola Gjeilo (Decca Classics, 2016) (with Voces8, Tenebrae, and the Chamber Orchestra of London)^{[14] [15]}
• Northern Lights (Chandos, 2012) (with the Phoenix Chorale)^[16]

Piano:

• Dawn (Decca, 2022)^{[17] [15]}
• Night (Decca, 2020)^{[18] [19]}
• Piano Improvisations (2L, 2012)^{[20] [21]}
• Stone Rose (2L, 2007)^{[22] [21]}

External links

• • Member of the Norwegian Society of Composers

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ola describes it as "YAY-lo" . olagjeilo.com . 2 September 2020.
2. Web site: Ola Gjeilo's official biography, from his website . olagjeilo.com . March 26, 2016.
3. Web site: Wind Symphony Ola Gjeilo: Composer, Pianist, 2014 . Cheo, Patrick . olagjeilo.com . October 2, 2014. .
4. Web site: An exclusive interview with Ola Gjeilo - Musicroom Blog - Everything for the Musician . 5 February 2013 . musicroom.com . 22 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033000/http://www.musicroom.com/blog/an-exclusive-interview-with-ola-gjeilo-19828 . 1 December 2017 . dead.
5. http://www.singers.com/composers/Ola-Gjeilo/ “Ola Gjeilo,” United Singers International: CGI Copyright
6. Web site: Ola Gjeilo . www.dciny.org . Mar 17, 2019.
7. Web site: Albany Pro Musica concert to mark debut of partnership with composer . Amy. Biancolli . Oct 25, 2017 . Times Union . Mar 17, 2019.
8. Papania, Christine, “Ola Gjeilo: Sunrise Mass and World Premiere of Dreamweaver at Carnegie Hall,” ChoralNet: American Choral Directors Association, 2014, accessed October 3, 2014 .
9. Web site: Ola Gjeilo: Sunrise Mass and World Premiere of Dreamweaver at Carnegie Hall - Chorus America . chorusamerica.org . 22 February 2017.
10. Dorsey, Scott, “Ola Gjeilo to Compose 2016 Brock Commission,” ChoralNet: American Choral Directors Association, 2014, accessed October 1, 2014,
11. Web site: Raymond W. Brock Memorial Commission . 23 June 2020 . American Choral Directors Association . 2023-07-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708112006/https://acda.org/about-us/awards-competitions/raymond-w-brock-memorial-commission . 2023-07-08 . Oklahoma City.
12. Web site: Winter Songs - Ola Gjeilo . olagjeilo.com . 17 November 2017.
13. Web site: Winter Songs Ola Gjeilo (piano) . www.prestomusic.com . 22 October 2023.
14. Web site: Ola Gjeilo - Ola Gjeilo . olagjeilo.com . 22 February 2017.
15. Web site: discography . www.deccaclassics.com . 22 October 2023.
16. Web site: NEW CD! NORTHERN LIGHTS. phoenixchorale.org . 17 May 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220724080401/https://phoenixchorale.org/2012/01/new-cd-northern-lights/ . 24 July 2022.
17. Web site: Ola Gjeilo - Dawn . olagjeilo.com . 13 August 2022.
18. Web site: Ola Gjeilo - Night . olagjeilo.com . 13 April 2020.
19. Web site: Ola Gjeilo showcases the soul of New York City in 'Night' . www.yourclassical.org . 25 October 2023 . June 10, 2020.
20. Web site: Piano Improvisations - Ola Gjeilo . olagjeilo.com . 22 February 2017.
21. Web site: OLA GJEILO – Piano Improvisations . John Sunier . www.audaud.com . 25 October 2023 . Jun 15, 2012.
22. Web site: Stone Rose - Ola Gjeilo . olagjeilo.com . 22 February 2017.