Bjorn Morten Kjaernes composer / arranger

Bjørn Morten Kjærnes ( Oslo , 29 August 1952 ) is a Norwegian composer , music educator , arranger and conductor .

Kjærnes studied pedagogy and music at the pedagogical college in Hamar and Bergen . He then studied composition with Lasse Thoresen and Olav Anton Thommessen at the Norges Musikkhøgskole in Oslo. An important subject for him was Sonology for which he paid a lot of attention and this is reflected in both his compositions and in his work as a teacher.



As a teacher and music educator, he was associated with music schools, primary schools, secondary schools and folk high schools. He became director of the municipal school of music and dance in Ås and Frogn in the Norwegian province of Akershus . Today he is director of the culture school (Kontra Kulturskole) in Ski .



He started working as a conductor early on, starting with a dance band The Mexican Memorial as a high school student. In Ski he was commissioned to form a big band to promote the cultural activities. For many years he was the conductor of the gospel choir s Ten Sing , Ten Sing Årnes and Praising in Hamar. From 1977 he also conducts concert bands and brass bands such as the Nordby Ungdomskorps , Ås Guttemusikkorps , Prinsdal skolekorps , Sofiemyr skolekorps, Nordfjord Ungdomskorps ,Jernbanens Musikkorps Oslo (1997-2006), Romsås Janitsjar , Stabekk Janitsjarorkester and the Asker chamber choir.



He organized and led summer music schools of the Norwegian National Federation of Wind Orchestras (Norges Musikkorpes Forbund).



As a composer he wrote works for orchestra, concert band, brass band, vocal music, chamber music and pedagogical works. He arranged around 200 pieces for concert band and brass band. Kjærnes is a much sought-after jury member at music competitions of the national and international federations. At music publisher Norsk Noteservice AS he is responsible for the publications of wind music.