Violinist, composer and improviser Inger Hannisdal is a genre-defying and versatile musician, who moves seamlessly between folk and traditional music, contemporary classical, avant-garde jazz and improvised music, retaining her own distinctive sound. Musically multi-lingual, her work merge melodic and tonal languages both from Norwegian folk music and her years learning Arabic music in Lebanon, seeking a counter-hegemonic method that centers non-Eurocentric composition techniques and improvisational languages, and with an explicit ideology of multiculturalism and exchange. A proponent of DIY ethics and aesthetics, she frequently utilizes lo-fi electronics, cassette tapes and acoustic preparations, rejecting perfectionism for spontanity and in-the-moment creation. Her compositions focus on microtonality, both in melody and harmony, sometimes using extended techniques on the instrument. She performs frequently with her own ensemble, solo, and in various collaborations and ad-hoc encounters. She recently made her soloist debut with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra performing her own commissioned work. She also performs Arabic and Persian music in various groups and projects.

Inger is the recipient of the Hans Christian Ostrø memorial price in 2023, and of a Spellemannspris / Norwegian Grammy for composition in 2023 for «North South East West». She has premiered her music at Ultima - Oslo Contemporary Music Festival, Riksscenen, Oslo World and Global Oslo Music, and have been commissioned by ensembles such as Alpaca Ensemble and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. She releases music on her self-run independent record label Fiol.

«In general there is something refreshing to Hannisdal’s project, and her musically multi-lingual approach. It feels full of curiosity, independence and engaged immersion, originating just as much from lived experience, encounters and presence, as from institutions and establishments. This makes her artistry something of her own, which hopefully will mark the scene for a long time to come.» - Morgenbladet, 2023

«This is Wicker Man stuff» - Songlines Magazine, 2022

photos: Nabeeh Semaan

“Løvsanger” for violin and string orchestra, with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra

solo, “Sjøsalme”, Khan Sulaiman Pasha, Damascus, Syria October 2025

“Sails”, Inger Hannisdal Ensemble, live at Riksscenen / Folkelarm

Solo - Caféteateret, Oslo, april 2023

Inger Hannisdal Ensemble live at Oslo World, november 2022
Khalid Laaouam - saxophone // Frode Haltli: accordion // Michaela Antalová: drums // Adrian Myhr: double bass // Inger Hannisdal: violin

Inger Hannisdal About / BiographySolo Ensemble ConcertsDiscography FIOLVideos Photos Contact Email Instagram

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Inger Hannisdal

About / Biography
Solo
Ensemble
Concerts
Discography
FIOL
Videos
Photos

Contact
Email
Instagram