4BR Downunder Profile Interview - Anniken Ødegård

Midland Brick Brass in Western Australia is lucky to have this gorgeous and talented young lady as a member of their band playing cornet. 4BR Downunder caught up with her recently at the WA State Band Championships.

Musical Profile

Anniken comes from a musical family, where she is the fourth generation to play cornet. She started playing at the age of seven, with no doubt in her mind what instruments to choose: the cornet and the piano.

At the age of nine, Anniken joined the local school band and played with them for ten years. When she was eleven years old, Anniken started playing in two amateur bands (or "grown-up-bands"), Åndalsnes Musikkforening and Vestnes Musikklag. She played with VML for four years and with ÅMF for seven years. After her years in VML, Anniken joined Tomra Brass Band, which is a band rehearsing an hour and a half drive away from Åndalsnes. Her father and brother also played in this band, whilst her mum was their best critic. Anniken played with Tomra for four years until she finished upper secondary school. It was time to move out of home, and she was heading for Stavanger.

When Anniken came to Stavanger she was accepted in the Stavanger
Brass Band, where she stayed from August 2002 until December 2004, having to apply for leave of absence because of study plans in Australia.
 
During her years of banding Anniken has been fortunate to work with great musicians, composers and conductors. Some of them are still close friends and have given exceptional inspiration and guidance. To mention a few: Philip Sparke, Philip Wilby, Nick Childs, John Hudson, Selmer Simonsen, Arnfinn Dalhaug and of course Dr. David King.

Personal Profile

Anniken grew up in a small town on the North-West coast of Norway, called Åndalsnes. This picturesque town is in a landscape of fjords, surrounded with several beautiful mountains.

Andalsnes, Anniken's home town

Some of the most popular tourist attractions are Trollstigen and the Troll Wall (with the highest vertical drop in Europe).

Troll Wall

With a population of only 3,000, Anniken's hometown is somewhat smaller than Perth. With such stunning scenery right outside the door, one cannot help falling in love with nature.

Andalsnes in the winter

Even though Åndalsnes is "the best place in the world" in Anniken's point of view, it was still necessary to "move out" and discover the world, study for an education, experience what life has to offer, meet new people, discover new cultures and play in new bands.

After upper secondary school Anniken moved to Stavanger. She chose this city partly because of the brass band community, but also because she knew a lot of friends there. Stavanger is a city with 110,000 inhabitants and it has an international atmosphere due to its position as the oil capital of Norway. Anniken liked the city a lot, and would not mind moving back some day.

Anniken putting a stone on the top of what is called "Varde", which is basically a pile of stones: a landmark to let the person after you know that someone has been there. Straight below is Åndalsnes.

Bands:

2002-2004: Member of Stavanger Brass Band (Norwegian Champions 2003 & 2004, Norwegian Entertainment Champions 2002 & 2004, North American Brass Band Champion 2003, Participation in European Brass Band Championship 2004, USA Tour April 2003, England Tour September 2004)

2003: Member of the European Youth Brass Band

1998-2002: Member of Tomra Brass Band                                   

1995-1998: Member of Vestnes Musikklag                                  

1995-2002: Member of Åndalsnes Musikkforening        

1992-2002: Member of Åndalsnes Skolemusikkorps

From Anniken:

Why Australia and why Perth?

"I came across a twinning program within nursing where I did the first year in Norway with Australian curriculum and exams, and then the next two years in Australia and Perth. I thought, "why not". Australia has always sounded like a very interesting country and I already knew some English. Achieving my profession in English is also a plus. With that I can work more places and be more useful, hopefully."

How long will you be staying?

"The plan for now is two years, where a half year of that is already done now. My plan so far is to graduate in December 2006. But who knows, further studies or even work sounds tempting."

What do you hope to achieve musically whilst here?

"A musical network with now great friends on the other side of the world. Music is universal and I discovered that starting in a band was definitely the best thing I did. I went to my first rehearsal with Midland Brick Brass twelve hours after I arrived in Perth. In a funny jet-lag, and I had just had my coldest shower ever, because I couldn't find out how to turn the warm water heating on, and when I finally learned that this was done with gas on the back of the house the bloody thing didn't work. At least the COLD shower woke me up before band. For me now, it is not about achieving so much musically, it's more experiencing everything there is to experience and making new friends and doing what we love together: Play music!"

What employment/study will you be doing whilst here?

"I am studying nursing at Edith Cowan University while I am in Perth. It's an interesting field within health and I have had two great pracs this last semester. My working visa is in order now, and I might look for a part-time job next semester."

Are you planning to see any more of Australia?

"Absolutely. I went on a road-trip for a week in April in Western Australia, north of Perth. An amazing experience, which just made me want to travel more! We started in Perth - Pinnacles - Geraldton - Carnarvon - Kalbarri national park - Natures Window - Coral Bay - Stromatolites ‘something' - Exmouth - Turquoise Bay - Paraburdoo - Tom Price - Newman - Meekatharra - and back to Perth again. I think I've covered most of the trip now. We got up with the sun, and went to bed just after sunset. An incredible trip!!"

What do you think of brass bands in Australia?

"Hmmm.... difficult to explain, and I only know the Western Australian part. It is a bit different from what I am used to, but so is everything else, it's literally on the other side of the world for me, so it would be boring if I travelled for more than 24 hours and found exactly the same as what I am used to. There would be no reason for me to come then."

Who are the big influences in your playing?

"Definitely my Dad! He has been my role-model in so many ways, and I have been lucky to enjoy our hobby together for many years, both with him as a member in the same band, but also as my conductor.

But of course other people have given me inspiration and unforgettable guidance. David King is especially one!! I've been so lucky to work with him in the Stavanger Band, and I have to say that I sometimes miss having him as conductor and doing projects with him. And I can't wait till he and the YBS band come to Perth.

Also Philip Sparke is a good friend. I remember especially when he came home to us for dinner and after dessert he sat down by the piano and my sister and I stood next to the piano singing to his playing. Evenings like that are good memories.

And Philip Wilby; with my former band, the Tomra Band, I worked closely with him when he was writing "Dove Descending". We were his "test band" so he used us to correct and try out his piece. And we went over to Birmingham in 1999 and had the first official performance of the piece to the adjudicators and the administrators. Gosh, how scared I was for the top B flat in the middle of the Nativity-part.

King, Sparke and Wilby are big names in the brass band world, and I think they will influence anyone they come across. But for me it is also important to include and mention all of my friends within music. It's like one big family!! And for instance with the Stavanger band, where we spend up to 160 days together in a year, they see your good days but also you bad days, and they support you through rough times. So in a way I look up to all the people I have played with and all the people I am playing with. In a piece of music all the parts are important, so all the musicians are important."