Artists | Lene Grenager (NO)

Lene Grenager (born 1969 in Halden, Norway) is a cellist and composer.
She studied composition and the cello at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo under Aage Kvalbein (cello), Olav Anton Thommessen and Alfred Janson (composition). She has also attended seminars and lectures with the following composers: Louis Andriessen, Gerard Grisey, George Benjamin, Brian Ferneyhough, Magnus Lindberg, Philip Manoury, Iannis Xenakis, Tristan Murail, Klas Torstensson, Alejandro Vinao, Bent Sørensen, James Dillon, Trevor Wishart and Judith Weir.
Currently (2009–2013) she holds a five year work grant from the Norwegian State, and the same institution awarded her a three year work grant (2002–2004) for Young Artists. She has also been awarded grants from Fegerstens Legat, Komponistenes vederlagsfond and TONO. In 2002 she was awarded the Lindeman Prize for young composers. From 1999 till 2001 she held a scholarship position in composition at Agder University College. From 1998 she is a member of the Norwegian Society of Composers.
Grenager works both as composer and musician. She has been working professionally since 1995 with commissions from a.o. Cikada, Ensemble Ernst, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Bodø Sinfonietta, Nordic Music Days, Fylkingen and Affinis ensemble. She has had portrait concerts at the festivals Ultima, Borealis and Ilios and her works has been performed at festivals and concerts all over Europe. She finds it important that the musicians own voices and choices are reflected in the performances of her works but simultaneously that the core of the work is clearly defined from her hand. This has resulted in a great variety of notational techniques and richness in detail in the different scores. Grenager’s work as performing improvisational musician has also influenced her compositions. She tours extensively all over the world with the improvisation bands SPUNK, Lemurand with Sofia Jernberg. She has also cooperated closely with dancers, visual artists and actors.
Grenager participates on some 20 recordings as composer, musician and producer a.o. Affinis-suite (+3db), Slåtter, slag og slark (Euridice), Systema naturae (Øra), and with SPUNK (Rune Grammofon), Lemur (+3db), Jernberg/Grenager (olofbright).