Ola Gjeilo is one of the most frequently performed composers in the choral world. An accomplished pianist, improvisations over his own published choral pieces have become a trademark of his collaborations across the world.
Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo is one of the most frequently performed in the choral world. An accomplished pianist, improvisations over his own published choral pieces have become a trademark of his collaborations.
He grew up in a musically eclectic home listening to classical, jazz, pop and folk, a broad background he later incorporated into his classical composition studies at The Juilliard School and Royal College of Music in London. He is especially inspired by the improvisational language of artists such as film composer Thomas Newman, jazz legends Keith Jarrett and Pat Metheny, glass artist Dale Chihuly, and architect Frank Gehry.
Ola is an exclusive Decca Classics artist, and his Decca albums include Ola Gjeilo, Winter Songs, and Dreamweaver, also featuring Tenebrae, Voces8 and the Choir of Royal Holloway, as well as the solo piano albums Night, Dawn, and ordinary moments.
Ola’s music is published by Walton Music (choral) and Chester Music (piano). For more information, please visit olagjeilo.com, or find Ola on his social media profiles.
ORDINARY MOMENTS is the evocative new solo piano album from Ola Gjeilo, released by Decca Classics. This intimate collection of 12 original pieces is crafted to serve as a gentle soundtrack for the quiet, reflective spaces of daily life. Moving away from his choral arrangements, Ola embraces a minimalist and lyrical approach, inviting listeners to … more»
Happy New Year! We’re excited and proud to welcome the Swedish barbershop vocal quartet Ringmasters to the artist list. These master-entertainers fuse jaw-dropping a cappella virtuosity with the infectious energy of pop music. In January they have concerts in Spain, Germany and Luxembourg. They will also be in London to record with VOCES8 and composer … more»
28.06.2025Lyyra,Ola Gjeilo,Paul Smith,VOCES8,VOCES8 Foundation
LIVE From London returns with a spectacular celebration marking the 20th anniversary of VOCES8. The festival features eight exceptional concerts, shining a spotlight on both established and emerging talent. Marking twenty years since its first concert VOCES8 presents a major concert at London’s iconic Barbican Hall featuring guest performances by the BBC Singers, the VOCES8 Scholars, violinist Jack Liebeck and beloved VOCES8 alumni. … more»
Ola Gjeilo will be in Berlin at the “Walking in Beauty” festival as guest of ChoralSpace from April 23-27 this year. A Festival Choir made up of 480 singers and 12 choirs from around the world will perform music by Ola, culminating in a performance in the Berlin Philharmonie.
VOCES8 has announced the successor to Andrea Haines. “We are thrilled to announce that Savannah Porter will be joining VOCES8 as Andrea’s successor. Savannah will officially make her debut in September 2025, sharing the role with Andrea from that point until the end of the year. During Savannah’s recent visit to London, we had the … more»
Ola will be in Europe during the summer of 2024 working and performing with four organisations in Germany, Austria, Spain and Norway. In May he will be in Ochsenhausen, Germany where a residency with the Landesakademie für die musizierende Jugend in Baden-Württemberg will see Ola performing with students, conducted by Michael Alber. Following this the … more»
13.08.2023Ola Gjeilo,Roxanna Panufnik,VOCES8,VOCES8 Foundation
VOCES8 was joined on the stage of the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms Mindful Mix late-night concert by Ola Gjeilo, the Carducci Quartet and harpist Ruby Aspinall. Their mixed repertoire programme featured music from William Byrd to Caroline Shaw, Radiohead and the world premiere of a co-commission between the BBC and VOCES8 from … more»
In the new Decca Classics album built around two new multi-movement works titled The Road and Dreamweaver, Ola pays homage to his home country of Norway. The first single release from the album features the opening movement of Dreamweaver, with the full album released on 29th September. The album features Ola on piano, the Choir … more»
VOCES8, Ola Gjeilo and the Carducci Quartet will perform in a Late Night “Mindful Mix” Prom at the Royal Albert Hall on August 9th. Although VOCES8 has performed at the Proms before this is the first time they appear at the Proms in its iconic Albert Hall venue. Ola Gjeilo is performing for the first … more»
31.05.2023APOLLO5,Ola Gjeilo,Paul Smith,VOCES8,VOCES8 Foundation
Filmed in beautiful locations around the world and accompanied by suitcases bursting with exclusive performances, LIVE From London’s tenth festival offers you ‘a drop of golden sun’. Host ensemble VOCES8 features in four of the nine concerts and begins by taking you exclusively behind-the-scenes on the group’s European summer tour. Barnaby Smith leads VOCES8 and … more»
Invocations Apollo5’s forthcoming studio album, Invocations, was born out of the group’s desire to share fragments of their life stories with audiences, and to encourage listeners to discover their ‘life music’ too. Alongside long-term collaborator Fraser Wilson, Apollo5’s singers individually hand-picked songs and texts that have emotionally resonated with them over the course of their lives; … more»
Following a string of globally successful virtual festivals, VOCES8 release brand new album Infinity, out now on Decca Classics. This new collection of meditative and otherworldly choral recordings transcends genres and features six brand-new compositions interspersed with eight newly arranged covers from renowned composers. Stream Infinity HERE In this space-inspired concept album, VOCES8 leads listeners … more»
“. . . [a] stunning new Norwegian choral work that might be the next big thing in classical music . . . Ola Gjeilo draws on influences from Norwegian culture to create modern choral music of exquisite beauty. Radiant vocal textures are backed by shimmering strings and a hypnotic piano, performed by Gjeilo himself.”
David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
“. . . Gjeilo enjoys the attention here of two world-class ensembles -- Tenebrae and VOCES8, whose flawless singing will impress all listeners . . .”
“... stunning... modern choral music of exquisite beauty. Radiant vocal textures are backed by shimmering strings and a hypnotic piano, performed by Gjeilo himself.”
—Aled Jones, Classic FM
