Biography
Having recently graduated with a DipRAM award from the Royal Academy of Music, Thormod Rønning Kvam enjoys the creativity involved in being a musician of the 21st century. He is convinced that the key to a sustainable and meaningful life in music is to explore what really resonates within us—and communicating it.
The past season marked a new high point in his career—debuting in Rachmaninoff’s Second Concerto as well as receiving two major Norwegian grants supporting his first international solo tour and debut recording. Earlier this year, also following his work as Artistic Director of Aulaseriene, he was elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in recognition of his significant contribution to the music profession.
Further recent highlights include performances in London's Wigmore Hall, Harpa in Reykjavik, the Norwegian Opera and Stockholm Concert House, and several performances for the Norwegian Royal Family. Collaborations with musicians such as Guro Kleven Hagen, Eldbjørg Hemsing, Eivind Ringstad, Eir Inderhaug and Halvor Festervoll Melien also reflect an important part of his credentials.
Thormod has performed for the Norwegian Royal Family on several occasions, and has also been on the classical jury for the Norwegian Spellemann (Grammy) Awards. He was an official contributor in Richard Stokes’ newest book, The Complete Songs of Hugo Wolf: Life, Letters, Lieder.
Amongst his current inspirations are composers such as Debussy, Janáček, Scriabin, Sibelius and Shostakovich. Music from the tumultuous years of 1910-25 seem more relevant than ever—a parallel Thormod wishes to showcase through several projects in the coming seasons.
Thormod has been working widely in developing new concepts and audiences for various organisations, amongst these the Risør Chamber Music Festival and the Edvard Munch Ensemble. He is Artistic Director of Aulaseriene, a year-round chamber music series to which he invites established as well as young artists. Based in the historically renowned Oslo University Aula and at the newly opened Edvard Munch-destination Ramme in Hvitsten, Thormod believes that classical music gains from being contextualised and presented together with a variety of arts.
In January 2023, Thormod was elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in recognition of his significant contribution to the music profession. Other recent prizes are the Nils Larsen Grant supporting his international debut, as well as the Fegersten Scholarship for his debut recording. He has also received the Musician of the Year prize from the Forsberg and Aulie Foundation, one of Norway’s most acknowledged grants for young artists. Previously he has won the Dobloug Foundation Scholarship generously supporting his London Master of Arts degree, as well as the Yamaha Music Foundation Scholarship. Furthermore, in 2017 he was selected for Talent Norway's extensive ArtEx programme for performers embarking on international careers across music, acting, dance and film, resulting in cross-art collaborations with artists such as Kåre Conradi (The Ibsen Company) and Ola B. Johannessen, amongst others. In 2015 he took on a 2-year development programme designed exclusively for young voluntary leaders, hosted by the Norwegian Bank Savings Foundation.
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From 2010, Thormod commenced his undergraduate studies at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo under Prof. Jiří Hlínka. In 2015 he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Music, studying Master of Arts followed by Professional Diploma under Profs. Christopher Elton and Diana Ketler, and with Michael Dussek in chamber music, graduating with distinction and a DipRAM award in 2019.
Thormod has also studied and attended masterclasses with pianists such as Gordon Back, Leif Ove Andsnes, Jens Harald Bratlie, Liv Glaser, Wolfgang Plagge, Erling Ragnar Eriksen, Håvard Gimse, Christian Ihle Hadland, James Baillieu, Hamish Milne, Joseph Middleton, Gabriela Montero, Cristina Ortiz, Simon Trpçeski, Jeffrey Swann, and others.