Terje Bjørklund

Additional key Bjørklund compositions include Morene and Narvik for symphony orchestra, Magnificat Requiem, De Profundis and Te Deum for soloists, choir and orchestra. Two violin concertos are also key elements of his output: Arctos for violin and strings (1993), Concerto for violin and orchestra (2010) and the opera Frøken Victoria based on Knut Hamsun’s novel Victoria. Concerto for piano and orchestra saw its premiere on 14 January 2016 by Tor Espen Aspaas and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra while Bjørklund’s Missa Libera for choir, cello and organ was premiered in Trondheim’s Nidarosdomen in April 2016. Bjørklund has also composed three full-length orchestral crossover works: Norwegian Sanctus (2006), The Wedding (2009) and Sacred Concert (2014). Norwegian Sanctus for jazz soloists, choir and chamber orchestra was premiered at the Molde International Jazz Festival in 2006, and the work was also performed at the 2006 Olavsfestdagene and during the Oslo International Church Music Festival in 2009. The Wedding for jazz soloists and chamber orchestra was a work commissioned by the Trondheim Jazz Festival as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Jazz Department of NTNU.

As a composer Bjørklund has primarily been oriented toward serious art music. In many of his works harmony is a main element. The way in which he handles harmony and sound is reminiscent of modern jazz. Bjørklund's music was played at the LOOC Festival "Olympic Winter Land" in Tokyo in 1993. He was the festival composer during the North Norwegian Festival in 1993 and at the Chamber Music Festival Vinterfestspill. in Røros in 2004. He was "Artist/Composer of the Week" in the Norwegian national radio station NRK P2 in both 1991 and 2004.

Bjørklund has written a number of commissioned works for choirs, orchestras and chamber music as well as solo settings. Bjørklund has devoted much of his compositional career to writing for string ensembles, a testament to Trondheim’s rich string milieu. Key Bjørklund works include Sarek (1992) and Carmina (2008). The latter was recorded by the Trondheim Soloists and featured on the 2008 release Divertimenti, an album that received three 2009 Grammy nominations.

From 1973 onwards Bjørklund has been employed at the Conservatory of Music in Trondheim. In 1979 he initiated the Jazz Program at the Conservatory. The Conservatory is now part of The Department of Music at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology) and today Bjørklund is an Associate Professor there, with the responsibility for courses in composition and music theory.

Bjørklund was born in Narvik. After obtaining his Master's Degree in Musicology at the University of Oslo in 1971, Bjørklund studied composition with Finn Mortensen at the Norwegian Academy of Music (1971–1973). Bjørklund has collected his experiences as a jazz musician in the text book Moderne jazzimprovisasjon. In 1983 he was awarded the Norwegian Jazz Association's highest award: the Buddy prize, for his efforts within Norwegian jazz life.

Terje Bjørklund (born 2 January 1945) is a jazz pianist and composer. He was an active jazz pianist until approximately 1980. From then on he has concentrated on composing.