Stein-Erik Olsen

Stein-Erik Olsen studied at the Bergen Conservatory of Music and the Norwegian State Academy of Music. His post-graduate teachers have included Alexandre Lagoya, at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique, Paris, and the Czech pianist, Jiri Hlinka.
Stein-Erik’s international career began in 1974, when he represented Norway in the Expo Norr Festival in Sweden. Since then he has been invited to many overseas festivals and toured extensively, giving solo recitals and concerto performances (including Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez), as well as appearing on radio and television throughout Europe, Great Britain, India and Korea.
In 1986 his debut recital at the Wigmore Hall, London, won great praise from the critics and his subsequent recordings have been similarly well received. Stein-Erik Olsen has had compositions dedicated to him by many eminent composers and works by Ketil Hvoslef, Olav Berg, John Duarte, Nikita Koshkin and Stepan Rak are featured in his recordings for Simax.
Stein-Erik Olsen, now acknowledged as an international guitarist of distinction, is currently professor of guitar at the Grieg Academy, Department of Music, University of Bergen, thus returning full circle to his alma mater to assist others who aspire to follow in his footsteps.

Graham Wade, May 2014