Yngve Slettholm

Composing career

Slettholm took his diploma exams at the Norwegian Academy of Music in 1980 and began his composing career in contemporary music. In the period 1982–1986 he was the President of the national organisation Ny Musikk (the Norwegian section of the ISCM). After this, he travelled to the US and studied under Morton Feldman (1986–88) while he worked towards his doctorate. His doctoral work was submitted at the State University of New York. Slettholm has won many prizes for his work, as well as many study and work grants.

Slettholm has comprehensive teaching practice, running from instructor and conductor workshops in musical ensembles via school work as an associate professor in composing and music theory at the Norwegian Academy of Music, as well as prorector.

As well as his compositions in contemporary music, Slettholm has composed for choirs and brass bands in the Salvation Army.

Politics and cultural executive

Slettholm's political career, where he represented the Christian Democratic Party, reached its high point when he was State Secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs under Valgerd Svarstad Haugland from 2001–2005. He has also been deputy leader of Oslo Christian Democratic Party.

Since 2006, Slettholm has been the executive director of the copyright management organisation Kopinor. From 2012–2016 he chaired the Arts Council of Norway. He is also chair of Dronning Sonja Internasjonale Musikkonkurranse. He has been chair of Composers' Remuneration Fund, vice chair of the Norwegian Society of Composers, TONO and the Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival and board member of the Norwegian Music Fund.

Recorded and major works

Discography