Knut Avenstroup Haugen was born in Oslo, but grew up in the southern Norwegian town of Kristiansand. Already at an early age Knut showed extraordinary talent as a pianist. During his piano studies at the Conservatory of Agder, Knut took his first composition classes. Even though he immediately fell in love with this art, Knut moved to Utrecht in the Netherlands to continue his piano studies.

During his stay in Holland, Knut decided that he didn't want to be a pianist after all and chose to follow his dream of becoming a composer instead. He enrolled at the University of Oslo and started his Master studies in composition and musicology.

Knut now lives in Oslo and works fulltime as a composer. Among his works are both game‑scores, concert pieces and a musical. Ranging from small pieces for piano and vocals through chamber music to large‑scale orchestral works, Knut's compositions have been performed at numerous festivals and concert venues in Norway. Knut was elected festival‑composer for the Oslo Opera Festival in 2007.


EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF OSLO (Norway):
Theoretical works:
— Thesis on film- and game music.
— Thesis on orchestration
Practical studies:
— Orchestration
— 20th century style composition
— Counterpoint
— Big band‑arranging

CONSERVATORY OF AGDER (Norway):
Main practical studies:
— Piano
— Composition
— Arranging

CONSERVATORY OF UTRECHT (the Netherlands):
— Piano

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