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(Photo: Magnus Skrede)
Ragnhild Hemsing’s unique upbringing close to the folk music traditions of Norway enables her to present modern and individual classical performances that evoke the style of folk traditions.
Ragnhild was born in 1988 into the heart of the folk region of Norway, Valdres. She began to play the violin at 5 years of age and, showing exceptional talent, was invited to enrol at the prestigious Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo at the age of nine. Here she received lessons from Stephan Barratt Due, Alf Richard Kraggerud and Henning Kraggerud. She is currently taking violin lessons from the renowned teacher Prof. Boris Kuchnir in Vienna. She has also taken lessons throughout this time from eminent folk artists.
At only 13 years of age she made her debuts with the Bergen Philharmonic and Trondheim Symphony Orchestras, and the following year was invited to make her debut with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Since then she has performed with all of the major Norwegian orchestras as well as performances abroad with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Ukrainian National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kazan State Orchestra in Russia, the St Marks Symphony Orchestra in Italy and the Ashland Symphony Orchestra in the USA. Future engagements will include appearances with the Oslo Philharmonic and Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, the Geirr Tveitt Concerto for Handanger Fiddle with the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra in Latvia and concerts at the Bergen International Festival and Elverum and Oslo Chamber Music Festivals.
As a recitalist she has performed at the Wigmore Hall, the Verbier Festival in Switzerland as well as appearances nearer to home at the Bergen Festival and Northern Lights Festival in Tromsø amongst others. Ragnhild is also a very active chamber musician winning First Prize with the piano trio ‘Trio Brio’ in the European Music Prize for Youth in 2003 and touring with the group to Germany, Italy and Spain. She has since appeared separately at the Bellerive Festival in Switzerland, AlpenKlassik in Germany, the Stavanger, Trondheim and Harstad International Chamber Music Festivals, Hardingtonar Festival as well as participating in Seiji Ozawa’s Academy IMAS.
Ragnhild’s personal connection to the musical heritage of Norway is evident in her love to perform music with strong links to folk traditions. She not only performs classical works for violin, but more unusual and complex classical pieces written for the Hardanger Fiddle, such as the Geirr Tveitt concerto ‘Three Fjords’ and Fossegrimen Suite by Johan Halvorsen . In addition she actively seeks opportunities to perform works by contemporary Norwegian composers who specifically draw on folk traditions in their music. Most notably a collaboration with the young Norwegian dancer, Hallgrim Hansegård, will see Ragnhild perform ‘Yr’ by Norwegian composer, Lasse Thoresen, at the Bergen and Elverum Festivals in 2009. This piece pays homage to the folk music and dance traditions in Norway in a modern setting with video and lighting.
Ragnhild has been the recipient of many prizes, including First Prize and European Union Prize at the Kocian International Violin Competition in the Czech Republic and the Sparre Olsen Prize, both in 2003 and in 2006 she won First Prize in Norway’s Young Musician Competition.
Ragnhild Hemsing plays on a Francesco Rugeri Violin built in Cremona in 1694 kindly on loan from the Dextra Musica Foundation.
For further information please contact Naish Artists Management:
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Tel : + 47 95 92 80 32
PRESS REVIEW
"…In Svendsen’s Romance, Ragnhild Hemsing reinforced this work’s particular beauty with her outstanding command in sections bursting with energy as well as the softest pianissimo parts. She fills the room and the listener, not just through the power of her violin mastery, but through her mere presence and affinity for the music." — Bergen International Music Festival , Martin Bekkelund, Oppland Arbeiderblad, May 2007.
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