Concept: Malene Schjønning and Søren Møller
Choreography: Mette Rasmussen, Mejse Vedel and Kristian Tirsgaard
Composer: Søren Møller
Choir: Aarhus Girls' Choir
Conductor: Helle Høyer
Dancers: Mejse Vedel and Kristian Tirsgaard
Malene Schjønning, Producer (DK/USA) and Concept:
As a freelance professional dancer, the Danish Filmmaker and Choreographer Malene Schjønning, performed at the Royal Danish Theater and worked with choreographers such as Tim Rushton (Danish Dance Theater). Her choreography is performed in London, Vienna, Copenhagen and New York. Moreover, she choreographed Don Delillo's acclaimed "Valparaiso" on off-off Broadway. Her short film "Stairs" is screened in USA, United Kingdom, Norway and Greece. She received the New York Women in Film and Television’s 2010 honorable “Emerging Female Filmmaker” award and in 2011, her film “Antipodes” was selected to be in composition in the category “new horizons” at Aljazeera International Documentary Film Festival in Doha, Qatar. www.mschjoenning.com
Søren Møller, Producer (DK), Concept and Composer:
Danish pianist and composer based in New York. Soren Moller moved to New York in 2002 to study towards his Masters Degree at Manhattan School of Music as a Fulbright Scholar. Since then he has received rave reviews leading ensembles including acclaimed musicians such as Dick Oatts, Jason Marsalis, Antonio Sanchez and Joel Frahm and performed at established venues in New York including the Carnegie Hall. As a sideman Soren has toured throughout Africa and Europe and performed live on the TV channel Arte with Chiwoniso and Max Wild for 8 million viewers. Since 2007 Soren Moller has established a name as a gifted composer in both the Classical and Jazz world and has been commissioned work from classical woodwind ensembles and choirs to big bands throughout Europe. Over the last couple of years Soren Moller has been blogging about culture for Danish daily newspaper Politiken and Information and is an in demand workshop lecturer at Danish Folk High Schools and Conservatories. www.sorenmoller.com
Mette Rasmussen, Choreographer:
Born and raised in Odense, Denmark. In 2000 she moved to London to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer. She was accepted to Millennium dance 2000 where she did her 3 years of dance training. In her 3rd and final year, she was nominated ”best contemporary dancer”. In London Mette was fortunate to work with Choreographers such as Kylie Minoque’s choreographer Rafael Bonachela, Norman Douglas, David Warring, and Ashley Page. In 2006 Mette moved back to Denmark, as she was given the opportunity to teach at the Royal Danish Ballet School, Odense department, and Oure sport and performance. In Denmark Mette has continued working as a professional dancer and teacher. She has done projects for Nini Theilade, Bradley Shelver, Kristian Tirsgaard and Marie Brolin Tani. Most recently, Mette was giving the title, artistic director of the dance department at the Royal Danish Ballet School, Odense department. Mette still travel abroad to teach, dance and choreograph. www.metterasmussen.com
Mejse Vedel, Choreographer and Dancer
Since her graduation from The National School of Contemporary Dance
(Copenhagen, Denmark) in 2007, Mejse Vedel has worked in several
projects and with choreographers such as Marie Brolin-Taní, Virpi
Pahkinen, Tim Rushton, Lisa Torun, Mats Ek, Kim Brandstrup and Martin
Forsberg. From 2008-09 she was a member of "Unga Danskompaniet", a
postgraduate company touring in Denmark and Sweden. In 2009, the company
received the Danish theater award "Reumert Talent price" for the
performance "Touch". Mejse studied for a period of time in New York
City, primarily attending classes at Cunningham Studio, and later on in
Tel Aviv, practicing the technique "Gaga" at Batsheva Dance Company.
Besides her work as a dancer, Mejse has choreographed various cross-over
performances and in 2010 Mejse co-formed the group Papercuts, an
ongoing cross-over project that combines live music, dance and paper.
Currently, Mejse performs in several art films made in collaboration
with artist Rikke Benborg.
Kristian Tirsgaard, Choreographer and Dancer
holds a Bachelor degree in Dance Theatre from the renowned Trinity Laban Conservatory of Music and Dance in London. He has also studied with Trisha Brown Dance Company, and performed with multiple choreographers throughout Europe. Kristian is certified Life Energy Process body therapist, and his personal experience of unison between body, mind, and spirit, and its potential to expand consciousness inspire his work as dancer, choreographer, and teacher in the international dance environment. Kristian’s first collaboration with Mette Rasmussen took place in 2010 as they created their duet Playful Expansion for Odense Ballet Festival 2010.
Helle Høyer, Conductor
The conductor of Aarhus Pigekor, Helle Høyer, was trained at The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus, Denmark. Since 1981, she has served as choirmaster of Aarhus Music School, leading choirs of children and young people as well as teaching instrumental students ear training. For several years, Helle Høyer has conducted mixed choirs and since 2006, she has focused on three choirs: The Children’s Choir of Aarhus Music Choir, The Girls choir at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus and Aarhus Pigekor. Furthermore, she has been an occasional lecturer in the conduction of children’s choirs at The Danish School of Education at Aarhus University and The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus.
Aarhus Pigekor, Choir
The Danish girls’ choir, Aarhus Pigekor, conducted by Helle Høyer, is a part of Aarhus Music School and consists of 30 singers 16-23 years of age. The choir was established in the 1940s. Aarhus Pigekor has toured in Europe, United States, South Africa, China, Argentina and Canada. The choir is very active and has Aarhus Symphony Orchestra amongst its musical collaborators. In 2008 the choir released the CD, ”Jorden rundt med Aarhus Pigekor” (Around the World with Aarhus Pigekor) . In 2010, the Danish composer Per Nørgaard wrote ”Singing Sand” specifically for Aarhus Pigekor, -- a piece the girls have since then performed with great success. In December last year, “Singing Sand” became one of the songs included on the CD “Perler og krystaller” (Perls and crystals) with music from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada and North America. In 2003 and 2006, Aarhus Pigekor won gold medals in international choral competitions, and more recently, the girls have brought home no less than four awards in the International Choral Kathaumixw 2010, including the prestigious Choir of the World Award. www.aarhuspigekor.dk (in Danish).
Composers:
(Subject to Change)
Knut Nystedt (Norwegian, b. 1915), Sancta Maria
Leif Kayser (Danish, 1919 – 2001), Ave Maria / Regina Caeli
Per Nørgård (Danish, b. 1932), Swinging in the Rain
Svend S.Schultz (Danish, 1913 – 1998), April / Rondeau / Yndigt dufter Danmark
Niels la Cour (Danish, b. 1944), Fred hviler over land og by
Waldemar Åhlen (Swedish, 1894 - 1982), Sommersalme
Anna-Mari Kähärä (Finnish, b. 1963), Kuka nukkuu
