During this time, he also worked in Los Angeles as a freelance composer and concert recording artist. In 2006-2007, he moved to Los Angeles to study film composition/scoring at the University of Southern California, following up his interest in film and film music. He composed a variety of works while at Juilliard, and received the Gretchaninoff Memorial Prize, as well as winning the 2005 Juilliard Composers’ Orchestral Work Competition. In 2001, he began studying composition with Robert Beaser at the Juilliard School of Music. Gjeilo received his Bachelor’s degree from the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, and then attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he received a degree in composition. By 1999, he began to concentrate on composing concert music.

By the time he reached junior high school, he had one teacher who finally forced him to concentrate on his technique. He had a number of different piano teachers. At times, he would write down his improvisations as formal compositions. He can’t even remember when he began composing. He loved improvising and playing piano by ear, so he didn’t learn to read music immediately. He began taking formal piano lessons when he was seven, as well as studying jazz and composition. A talented child, he began to play piano by ear when he was three or four. Also previously unrecorded are original compositions by James Burton and Rihards Dubra.A Choral Christmas Featuring Prelude, A Spotless Rose, and The Ground by Ola Gjeilo (1978-)ĭynamic young composer and pianist Ola Gjeilo was born in Oslo, Norway, in 1978. There are three arrangements by Royal Holloway musicians: O little one sweet (by a Royal Holloway choral scholar), Silent Night (by Rupert Gough) and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by a former choral scholar. New contemporary arrangements include Away in a manger by the Norwegian-born composer Ola Gjeilo.

Several pieces have not been recorded before, including an upper voice setting of William Blake’s The Lamb by American composer George Whitefield Chadwick. The album presents a broad mix of old and new complete with contemporary arrangements of familiar carols and pieces the Baltic states. Its first recording on Edition Peters Sounds brings together the music, atmosphere and ethos of Christmas at Royal Holloway in the Chapel, celebrating with both sacred and secular music. The Choir of Royal Holloway is one of the finest mixed-voice collegiate choirs in Britain.

Ola gjeilo christmas