When he was 6 years old, Tellefsen began playing the violin in 'Trondheims musikkskole' (the music school in Trondheim). In 1955, he began his studies at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. In 1959, he had his debut in Universitetets Aula, Oslo.
Tellefsen is one of the most highly regarded violinists in Europe and in his long career as a soloist, he has played with many of the world's greatest orchestras and conductors. He has made many recordings and received many awards, including the Harriet Cohen International Music Award.
In February 1984 he participated in an emergency evacuation on an SAS flight that ended up in the water off of JFK airport. Although instructed to leave their possessions, he refused to abandon his priceless Guarneri violin as they evacuated onto an inflatable raft. The evacuees had to paddle away from the airliner with their bare hands, and due to the lack of oars there arose several suggestions(though mostly in jest) to use the precious instrument as an replacement thereof.
Prizes and Honours
1956: Knight of Polyhymnia, the order of the Symphony Orchestra at Studentersamfundet i Trondhjem.
1977: Christian Sinding, Konsert For Fiolin Og Orkester Nr. 1, Op. 45 / Suite For Fiolin Og Orkester Op. 10 / Legende For Fiolin Og Orkester Op. 46 (Norsk Kulturråds Klassikerserie), with Filharmonisk Selskaps Orkester, conductors: Okko Kamu & Kjell Ingebretsen
1979: Johan Daniel Berlin: Fiolinkonsert - 2 Symfonier - 4 Menuetter (Norsk Kulturråds Klassikerserie), with Kjell Jønnum (trumpet) Gayle Mosand (harpsichord) & musicians from «Trondheim Kammerorkester», conductor: Arve Tellefsen
1980: Ole Bull: En Jubileumskonsert Med Kjente Og Ukjente Komposisjoner Inkl. «Sæterjentens Søndag» (Norsk Kulturråds Klassikerserie), with Musikkselskabet «Harmonien»'s Orkester, conductor: Karsten Andersen
1986: Edvard Grieg: Fiolinsonate Nr. 1 I F-Dur, Opus 8 / Fiolinsonate Nr. 2 I G-Dur, Opus 13 (Norsk Kulturråds Klassikerserie), with Eva Knardahl (klaver)
1986: Edvard Grieg: Fiolinsonate Nr. 3 I C-Moll, Opus 45 / Cellosonate I A-Moll, Opus 36 (Norsk Kulturråds Klassikerserie), with Eva Knardahl (Grand Piano), Aage Kvalbein (cello) & Jens Harald Bratlie (Grand Piano)
1989: Edvard Grieg: Violin Sonatas (Norsk Kulturråds Klassikerserie), with Eva Knardahl (piano)