Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen is a Norwegian composer whose music blends storytelling, bold textures, and lyrical sensitivity. With a strong connection to the brass band tradition and a curiosity for combining genres and musical traditions, her works invite performers and audiences into vivid, imaginative landscapes. She holds a Master's degree in Musicology from the University of Oslo, specializing in brass band composition, and plays principal cornet with Oslofjord Brass, one of Norway's leading brass bands.

Highlights from her brass band catalogue include The Cosmographic Mystery (Norwegian National Championships 2023), The Island of Doctor Moreau (commissioned by Manger Musikklag, 2024), and Embracing Duality (EBBA commission, 2025 European Championships), depicting Hel from Norse mythology. She also composes for orchestra, wind band, and smaller ensembles. Her orchestral work Festivity served as the celebratory theme for Orchestral Year 2024, performed by almost all professional orchestras in Norway as well as numerous amateur and youth ensembles.

Her chamber works include Serenity, scored for vibraphone solo and brass ensemble, premiered at Kistefos Museum. Vilhelmsen's music balances technical brilliance with emotional resonance, aiming to challenge, inspire, and leave a lasting impression.

Photo credit: Rigmor Knutsen

Composer

  • Sheet music compositions for brass band, concert band, choir, orchestra, and other ensembles intended for live performances, created in Sibelius
  • Orchestral music for short films, commercials, etc., created with sample libraries in Logic Pro


Orchestrator, Copyist and Arranger

  • Orchestral instrumentation and adaptation from simple sketches to full orchestra (Logic & Sibelius)
  • Score preparation for performance (Sibelius)
  • Commissioned arrangements for any ensemble (Logic & Sibelius)


Cornet/Trumpet Player

  • Principal cornet in the Norwegian Championship Section band Oslofjord Brass
  • Freelance trumpet player for seremonies, events, orchestras, ensembles, etc.

Adjudicator

  • Swedish National Brass Band Championships
  • Regional Championships for Concert Bands
  • Norwegian Championships for School Bands
  • District Championships for School Bands
  • Oslo Brass Festival
  • Aalborg Music Festival


Education

2015 - 2017 University of Oslo - Musicology
Master's Degree - Composing Contest Music for Brass Band

2012 - 2015 University of Oslo - Musicology
Bachelor's Degree - Female Composers

2014 - 2015 Norwegian Academy of Music
Extra Credits in Composition

2013 Goldsmiths University of London - Music
Creative Orchestration & Arrangement, Techniques in Jazz & Popular Music, Music in Film


Awards and Honors

  • 2025 - The Music Publisher's Award: Nominated in category "Originator/Composer of the Year"
  • 2024 - 4Barsrest: Winner of category "Newcomer of the Year" - 4Barsrest Awards
  • 2024 - The Music Publishers Award: Nominated in category "Piece of the Year - Classical/Contemporary Music" with "The Cosmographic Mystery"
  • 2022 - The Music Publisher's Award: Winner of category "Breakthrough of the Year - Classical/Contemporary Music"

  • 2025 - Kulturdirektoratet: Recipient of grant for commissioned piece
  • 2024 - Music Norway: Recipient of travel grants
  • 2024 - Norwegian Society of Composers: Recipient of grants
  • 2024 - The Norwegian Composers' Fund: Recipient of grant for commissioned piece
  • 2023 - Karmøy Kommune: Recipient of culture grant
  • 2023 - Sparebank 1 Ringerike Hadeland: Recipient of talent grant
  • 2023 - Norsk Komponistforening: Recipient of grant for audiovisual project
  • 2023 - NOPA: Recipient of grant 
  • 2023 - Kulturetaten: Recipient of grant for audiovisual project
  • 2023 - Kulturdirektoratet: Recipient of grant 
  • 2023 - Komponistenes Vederlagsfond: Recipient of grant 
  • 2023 - TONO: Recipient of grant 
  • 2022 - Music Norway: Recipient of travel grant 


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