Soprano Laura Loge’s expertise in Nordic song and chamber music comes from a long path of study of Nordic languages, cultures and music. With ancestry from the south-western coastal area of Norway, she pursued her interest by first attending Skogfjorden, Concordia Language Villages’ Norwegian village, and returning later as a counselor. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College where she studied Norwegian and vocal performance. Her studies culminated in a year of studying Nordic Art Song and chamber music at the University of Stavanger Conservatory of Music where she shared an apartment with her Norwegian relatives and absorbed the local cultures and dialects. While there she also sewed and embroidered her own bunad, which, in honor of her ancestry, is of Rogaland style with Bjerkreim inspired embroidery.
Ms. Loge has presented recitals of Nordic Art Song for the Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series, the Minneapolis Edvard Grieg Society, the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association Gala Concerts, the Second City Chamber Music Series in Tacoma, on the radio broadcast, Live by George, and at St. Olaf College, Univeristy of Wisconsin, Madison, Montana State University, University of Stavanger Conservatory of Music, in Dillon, Montana, at the Scandinavian Living Center in Newton, Massachusetts, and at the Nordic Heritage Museum and the Norse Home in Seattle, Washington. She was a semi-finalist in the Grieg Festival 2009 Young Artist Competition. She later served as a panelist for the 2015 Grieg Festival in Florida, discussing difficulties English speakers encounter when singing in Norwegian. She performed in Edvard Grieg’s villa in Bergen, Norway as part of the 2015 International Workshop on the Songs of Edvard Grieg. With the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society she performed half of the complete songs of Edvard Grieg alongside baritone Alan Dunbar (who sang the other half) and Norwegian pianist Knut Erik Jensen.
Laura’s two CDs, Breaking the Language Barrier: Songs in Norwegian and Danish, Composed by Foreigners and Songs and Piano Music of Edvard Grieg; op 33 & 66 are now available here. She has performed numerous concerts of both programs throughout the US. Laura anticipates the release of, Der skreg en fugl, a new album in early 2024, recorded with pianist Angela Draghicescu, featuring songs by Norwegian women which have not yet been recorded.
Laura provided the expertise for the Norwegian section of a new three volume Nordic song anthology entitled Midnight Sun, compiled and edited by Mimmi Fulmer. She translated, transliterated and provided spoken recordings of 16 selected Norwegian songs. It is published by Subito Music and is available here.
Laura is the founder and president of the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society, Artistic Director of Nordic Chamber Music, Music Series Manager at St. Mark’s Cathedral, and former Artistic Director of the Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series.
Laura, collaborating with pianist Sandra Mogensen, toured the Pacific Northwest and Montana with a concert of Edvard Grieg’s Vinje songs, op 33 and Folketoner for piano, op 66. Other Nordic song performances include appearances with the Mostly Nordic Chamber Music series, as the honorary marshal for the 2011 syttende mai parade in Ballard, which includes presenting several Norwegian songs. Also she was featured at the Scandinavian Cultural Center’s 2011 Greater Tacoma Peace Prize Forum. She organized and performed memorial concerts, Alt for Norge, reaching Norwegians and supporters in Seattle, Washington D.C. and New York City in memory of those killed in the attacks in Olso and on Utøyet. Details for upcoming and past performances can be found here.
- Laura is available for performing, coaching, workshops, masterclasses and teaching.
- Laura has her own bunad, which she made while living in Norway.
- Laura is fluent in Norwegian and is well versed in its numerous dialects.
- Laura has studied Nordic music extensively, both classical and traditional.
- To listen to Laura sing in Norwegian, please click here.