Jørgen Karlstrøm

Jørgen Karlstrøm

Jørgen Karlstrøm (b. 1981) lives and works in Oslo. His education comes from the Grieg Academy, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin, and the Norwegian Academy of Music. Two elements in particular have been crucial to the compositions of Karlstrøm in the later years: the use of electronic elements and methods, and the connection of social contexts and music phenomena. In his later works, a fresh tendency has surfaced concerning his line of inspiration: Karlstrøm’s background as guitar player, with role models such as Sepultura and Meshuggah. This is evident in several of his works which display a heavy, distorted and rhythmical sound.

Karlstrøm has co-operated with conductors such as Pierre André Valade and Jukka Pekka Saraste. Today, he is labouring on a larger piece for the Oslo Philharmonic, more precisely the opening piece to the new concert of Norsk Arktisk Symfoniorkester in August 2009, and a new piece to the Arditti Quartet.