The following is a list of Hardanger fiddle teachers, performers and spelemannslaga (fiddling groups) interested in coming into contact with potential students, fellow musicians, workshop and concert organizers, dance groups, and others. The players listed are HFAA members variously experienced in teaching, performing, and playing for dance, among many other things. The list is for public use, with the intention of providing a resource with which to contact players and groups who are interested in sharing their music and their experience.

The teachers and performers in this list have provided contact information, internet links to further information about their activities as fiddlers, and short biographies for the perusal of visitors to this site. The list is organized by region. Within each region, fiddlers are listed in alphabetical order, and spelemannslaga are listed at the end of the region.

If you are an HFAA member interested in being included on this list, please contact Laura Ellestad: mayonaise91 (at) hotmail (dot) com. To join the HFAA, visit our membership page.

Disclaimer: The information in this listing has been volunteered by members of the HFAA. The HFAA has not ranked, endorsed, or otherwise vouched for the information provided. This listing is provided for information only.

Also visit our listing of regular event schedules to locate nearby learning opportunities. The annual HFAA Music and Dance Workshop is an excellent opportunity to both participate in workshops and to meet teachers from all
over the United States.

MIDWESTERN U.S.

Inna Larsen
Madison, WI
Contact 608-236-0468, ivlarsen (at) wisc (dot) edu
www.geocities.com/jeffinnakari

I have played violin for the past 28 years and the Hardanger fiddle for the past 15 years, studying with Norwegian and American teachers at the HFAA annual convention. My repertoire consists of tunes from all over Norway, and I perform at various Scandinavian events in Madison and Southern Wisconsin. Over the past 5 years, I have taught several beginning students the fundamentals of Hardanger fiddle playing and founded Fykerud’n Spelemannslag, a group that meets monthly. My goal is to have an active Hardanger fiddler presence in the Madison area.

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Julane Lund
Mooresville, Indiana (45 minutes southwest of downtown Indianapolis)
Contact 317-831-1147, julanelund (at) hotmail (dot) com
www.julanefiddle.com

I have played Norwegian-American fiddle music from my youth, having learned from my grandfather, and I have a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in traditional fiddling from Telemark University College (Rauland campus), in Norway. I play bygdedans from Setesdal and Telemark on the Hardanger fiddle, and I also play music from various areas of Norway on the conventional violin (many tunes are from Trøndelag). My expertise is in Norwegian-American old-time fiddling, of which both the conventional fiddle and Hardanger fiddle have been used. Besides fiddling, I also often sing songs in Norwegian at my concerts. I am very interested in striking up collaborative musical projects with musicians who play Scandinavian and Scandinavian-American music.

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Karen Solgård
Minneapolis, MN
Contact 612-242-5639, norsefiddle (at) solgard (dot) com
www.norsefiddle.com

Karen Torkelson Solgård began playing the old family fiddle in the 1970s. Since then, she has been an active member and leader with HFAA. She studied Vestland style with Dr. Andrea Een, Valdres tradition with Olav Jørgen Hegge, and Telemark tradition with several masters including Tarjei Romtveit, Alf Tveit, Hauk Buen, and Vidar Lande. She has been a regular instructor at HFAA annual workshops since 1997 and has served as its fiddle teaching coordinator. Karen performs around the United States and gives workshops to fiddlers and school children. She also is a regular dance fiddler at the local Scandinavian dances.

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Fykerud’n Spelemannslag
Madison, WI
Contact Inna Larsen, 608-236-0468, ivlarsen (at) wisc (dot) edu
www.geocities.com/jeffinnakari/speleman.htm

Fykerud’n Spelemannslag meets once a month at Inna’s home, on the West side of Madison. This is a small group of approximately 3-5 players. Most are beginners and a couple of the players are advanced.

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NORTH-EASTERN U.S.

Laurie Hart
Ithaca, NY
Contact 607-277-6201, LAH32 (at) cornell (dot) edu
web.mac.com/lauriehart

I teach Hardanger fiddle and regular fiddle in private lessons and classes, with a focus on Norwegian or Swedish music. I have been on staff, teaching these traditions and playing for dance classes, at Ashokan Northern Week and the Dance Flurry in NY. I play Hardanger fiddle for dancing a variety of Norwegian gammaldans and bygdedans traditions, especially Telemark and Vestland tunes, but some Valdres, Setesdal and Hallingdal tunes as well.

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Petra Kirstein
Brooklyn, NY
Contact pitonthemoon (at) hotmail (dot) com
www.scandiany.org

I have been playing the Hardanger fiddle for 5 years, and I love to play for dancing! I play a set each week for the Scandinavian dance here in NYC. I play mostly Telemark dances and Valdres springars, as well as some Hallingspringars and Setesdal gangars. I also love to play weddings or any other kind of party.

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Dan Trueman
Princeton, NJ
Contact 609-252-9717, dtrueman (at) princeton (dot) edu
music.princeton.edu/~dan

I play primarily Telemark style and have learned tunes from Hauk Buen, Per Anders Buen Garnås, Vidar Lande, Loretta Kelley, and others. I teach music composition at Princeton University and have taught Hardanger fiddle classes at the HFAA summer meetings.

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CANADA

Laura Ellestad
Calgary, Alberta
Contact mayonaise91 (at) hotmail (dot) com

I play bygdedans tunes from the Hardanger fiddle tradition from Valdres, and I also play some tunes from other areas such as Voss, Hardanger, Hallingdal and Telemark. I have studied the Hardanger fiddle independently in Norway, mainly with Tore Bolstad, and also with Henning Andersen, Trygve Bolstad, Leif Rygg, Håkon Asheim, Arne Anderdal, and others. I have taught Hardanger fiddle at the annual Scandinavian Folk Music and Dance workshop in Calgary, Alberta. I really enjoy playing for dancing, and I am also very interested in participating in concerts and workshops, as well as in collaborating with other musicians.

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last updated: May 2008