Early Voices

Early Voices is a professional vocal quintet performing renaissance and baroque music, and Norwegian folk music with a nordic sound. Early Voices’ five singers are experienced soloists, and have a varied background as ensemble singers from institutions such as The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Vocal Art, Kilden Vokalensemble, Det norske damekor and Trondheim Vokalensemble. Early Voices has held highly acclaimed concerts and tours in Norway. The singers: Kristine Våge, soprano, has a BA in music pedagogy from The Norwegian Academy of Music, where she studied classical singing with professor Mona Julsrud. Kristine works as a freelancesinger, and also as a voice teacher. She works in a great variety of genres, and has a wide ranging experience as a soloist and ensemble singer. Kristine has a great interest in baroque repertoire, and also in the operatic repertoire. Kristine is one of the founders of Det norske damekor, Norway’s first professional ensemble for female voices. Mari Johanne Müller, soprano, works as a freelance singer and has a wide experience as ensemblesinger and soloist. Mari works in a variety of genres, with a primary focus on early music and contemporary music. Her ensemble experience is from highly acclaimed ensembles like The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Vocal Art, Helsinki Chamber Choir amongst others. Mari is one of the founders of Det norske damekor. Her education is in musical theatre from Bårdar Academy, and she has studied singing with Mona Julsrud, Maria Berglund, Ivar Krogh Hovd and Nils Erik Steinsbø. Maria Dale Johannessen is a mezzo-soprano, educated at Barratt Due Institute of Music and with an MA (2020) from The Academy of Opera (Oslo National Academy of the Arts). She has performed in a variety of operas and oratorios, both in ensemble roles and as a soloist. In 2019, she sang the role of Hans in “Hänsel und Gretel” in the Opera Academy’s performanve at The Norwegian Opera and Ballet. Maria is one of the founders of Skeive Stemmer, an opera company that produces concerts and shows both in Norway and abroad. In 2021 she was part of the first performance of the chamber opera “Veiene som forsvinner” by Bjørn Kruse at the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, and in 2022 she starred in “Flagstad – the opera” by Ketil Bjørnstad at The Norwegian Opera and Ballet. Maria is a member of The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir and Det norske damekor. Øystein Stensheim is a tenor educated at the talent programme “Young Musicians” at the Conservatory of Music in Stavanger, and with a BA and MA from the Norwegian Academy of Music. Øystein is sought after both as a soloist and ensemble singer, and is a member of The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir. He works in a broad spectre of musical and artistic expressions. As a soloist he regularly performs works by Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Haydn, and he has contributed on many recordings. Øystein works with ensembles like TSO Vocal Ensemble, VocalArt and TrondheimBarokk. Øystein has performed as a soloist with Drammen Symphony Orchestra, Barokkanerne, Ensemble Allegria, The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Ensemble Dalí and Trondheim Barokk. Peder Arnt Kløvrud, barytone, has his education from Barratt Due Institute of Music and The Norwegian Academy of Music. He works freelance as a singer and conductor, and has been a member of The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir since 2005, where he has work with renowned conductors such as Grete Pedersen, Peter Dijkstra, Ottavio Dantone, Tônu Kaljuste and James Wood. As an ensemble singer, he has worked with TSO Vocal Ensemble, Edvard Grieg Choir, VocalArt and Mogens Dahl Chamber Choir. among others. In 2014 he performed the role as in “Et drømspill” at the Norwegian National Theatre. Peder Arnt has a wide experience as a soloist, in works like The Christmas Oratoria by Bach, and Faure’s Requiem. He has studied singing with Torgun Birkeland, Ståle Ytterli, Kjersti Ekeberg and Njål Sparbo, amongst others. Photo: Kristianne Marøy