Espen Westbye (b. 1982) is a composer, arranger, trumpeter, and music producer. Raised in Porsgrunn, he is currently based in Stavanger, where he works as a composer, conductor, instructor, and arranger.
As a composer and arranger, he writes music for wind bands and brass bands in a wide range of settings, and is frequently commissioned by ensembles both in Norway and internationally. He has conducted and written music for ensembles including Stavanger Brass Band and Gjallarhorn, and has also composed music for the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra as well as military bands in Norway and Denmark.
Alongside this, he runs his own music studio, producing film music and trumpet recordings for various artists and productions. Westbye is also Managing Director of Komponistforlaget AS.
As a performer, he is active as a trumpeter and international Yamaha artist. He has participated in concerts and projects with a number of Norwegian and international artists and ensembles, including Richard Bona, Marius Neset, Brass Brothers, New York Voices, and Shannon Mowday.
In addition, he works as a conductor for several bands in Rogaland and has conducted school bands, adult bands, and other ensembles throughout the region. He was also employed for an extended period as conductor of the Equinor Big Band.
Fredrick Schjelderup (b.1990) is a composer, arranger and conductor from Bergen (Norway). Fredrick finished his bachelor’s degree in composing at Grieg Academy of Music (University of Bergen) in 2014, and has made a name for himself as a composer home and abroad since then.
His music is performed all over the world and has on several occasions been selected as Set Test Pieces for a number of band competitions in Europe. Fredrick has a long career behind him as a percussionist in the world famous Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag, and his background in the brass band community has heavily influenced his work.
Fredrick has a wide catalog and writes music for all levels.
As an arranger I try to be as versatile as possible and have written works spanning from traditional brass and wind band music to arrangements including fiddles, choirs, organ, accompaniment group, flute and drum corps, accordion, bagpipe and even two Harley Davidson motorbikes!
Among others I have arranged or composed music for the following organizations and persons: Eikanger-Bjørsvik Band, Fodens Band, Sandefjord Brass Symposium, Stavanger Brassband, Tormod Flaten, Eirik Gjerdevik, Russell Gray, Nordic Brass Ensemble, Kristiansand Windorchestra, Bjørsvik Brass and The Norwegian Band Federation. Romeo and Juliet.
Some of this music is recorded on Eikangers cds "Art of the States" (2003) , Tales & Stories (2005), Tormod Flatens cds “Flight”, “Norwegian Euphonium” and “From the deep” and on Eikangers Naxos-recording of Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet”. And in 2010 Oster Brass released the cd "Han mass og han lass" which features my arrangements.
I have won composer competitions like the Fodens Richardson Award, the city of Florø composer competition for their jubilee fanfare, and I was picked out to compose a musical vignette for the bands in my home municipality of Alver. I have had premiers at the BrassWind contemporary music festival and the Norwegian championship of school bands
I have worked with champion bands like Eikanger-Bjørsvik, Krohnengen Brass Band, Tertnes Brass and Århus Brass Band (Denmark). And not to forget: My nine years with the Lindås School band. Great bunch of people!
And finally, as a former trumpet freelancer I played with military bands, orchestras and television. I am currently playing soprano in the Bjørsvik Brass (2011-) and before that I was with the Eikanger-Bjørsvik Band (1986-2011). I am still proud to be connected to Eikanger-Bjørsvik as a part of their Creative Team
Kjetil Djønne (b. 1996) is a former euphonium player and composer educated at the University of Bergen, and a conductor trained at the University of Stavanger. Works by Djønne have been commissioned by, among others, the Norwegian Naval Forces’ Band, Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag, and the Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band. In 2021, he received the Norwegian Music Publishers’ Prize for Breakthrough of the Year – Classical/Contemporary. The composer draws inspiration from a wide range of everyday impressions, and a varied stylistic background gives the music a broad spectrum of references.
Magnus Brandseth received his education from the Grieg Academy in Bergen and is a highly versatile musician. Over more than 20 years with Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag, he established himself as one of the leading tuba players in the brass band world, known for his innovative playing style and creative approach to the instrument.
With EBML, he has won 12 Norwegian Championship titles, the European Brass Band Championship, Brass in Concert, and numerous other competitions.
Magnus is also active on a range of instruments and has appeared as a soloist on water organ, didgeridoo, and vocals with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Stavanger Symphony Orchestra as part of the innovative Sustain project.
He is currently Musical Director of Krohnengen Brass Band, Bjørsvik Brass, and Smørås Skolemusikk, the reigning Norwegian champion, which has won the European Championship in both 2023 and 2024, in addition to six consecutive national titles.
In recent years, he has led Krohnengen Brass Band to top results at Siddis Brass and Brass in Concert, where he has also received the award for Best New Composition.
Magnus is also an active composer and a sought-after conductor for leading ensembles in Norway.
Emil Kristoffersen Børø from Hitra is a composer, arranger and conductor of bands and choirs, and has his education from the Grieg Academy and NTNU.
His compositions and arrangements have been performed by, among others, the Norwegian Navy Band, the Norwegian Air Force Band, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bergen Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. In 2017, his "Cat Trio" was nominated for the Music Publishers Award. Cat Trio nominert til Musikkforleggerprisen.
As a composer, he likes to work in many genres after years of experience as a trumpet/cornet player in wind- and brass bands, big bands and orchestra.
Reid Gilje holds a conducting degree from the Grieg Academy and works as a conductor, arranger, and composer. He is a regular guest conductor with the Norwegian professional military bands and is active in the amateur music scene as musical director of Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag and Strusshamn Musikkforening. As an arranger and composer, he has collaborated with institutions such as the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Norwegian Armed Forces Music, as well as artists including Morten Abel, Sigvart Dagsland, Ylvis and Isah.