Music
Elin Sofia Lotsberg is singer and music pedagogue, trained at Norges musikkhøgskole. Elin grew up on a folk high school and loves this kind of school. Her favourites are singing and use of the voice. She also has a strong interest for theatre. In addition to her professional work as a singer, she has worked in folk high schools, as a teacher for music A-level and at an academy for stage art.

Clive Anderson is a trombonist/conductor educated at the London College of Music and the University of East Anglia. His background is mostly in classical music, contemporary music and big band/jazz. Clive comes from London and is known for his British humour, he likes it here on Halsnøy and speaks Norwegian tolerably well (he says).

Geir Olav Akselsen is playing the guitar and has many years of professional experience from various bands. He has toured in Norway, Germany, Finland, Holland and Sweden. He is a skilled and versatile musician with experience from concerts, studio work and musicals. Geir Olav has his training from Nordisk Institutt for Scene og Studio in Oslo and main subject Jazz at Sund folk high school.

In addition there are other instrumental teachers connected to the music course.

Music production
 Jan Krey, our energetic sound teacher, is passionate about sound, music, recording technology and computers. He has his training in music technology from NTNU in Trondheim. He also has classical education in pian oplaying from Norges Musikkhøgskole. Furthermore, he has wide experience in performance art, improvisation and multimedia.

The music teachers do also have some classes for the sound students.

Fine Arts
John Cunningham is from England and has his art education from Roehampton Institute, London. He is a very experienced visual artist, and beside his work at the school, he works as an artist and have had several exhibitions in Norway and England.

Anne Lise Karlsen has a diploma in ceramics from Statens Høyskole for Kunsthåndverk og Design, and has for many years worked professionally as a ceramist/potter in addition to teaching. In our school, she teaches ceramics and sculpture.

Theatre and film
Eli Hårklau has wide experience from theatre, performance and music. She has studied drama, theatre and music at NTNU in Trondheim and Northumbria University in Newcastle.

The theatre group will also get some lessons and minor courses taught by other teachers of the school, i.e. in technical issues such as sound/lighting, in dance/movement and voice training/singing, aspects useful in theatre.

Dance
Silje D. Eide has been a student at Sunnhordland folk high school, main subject dance. After her year here, she trained as a dance teacher at the University of Stavanger. Later she has worked both as a teacher, and as a choreographer and dancer. Silje teaches mainly contemporary dance and jazz, but she also touches street jazz and hip hop.

Maia Brøndmo has worked many years as dancer, teacher and as choreographer. She has her training from Nord-Norsk Balletthøyskole, London Contemporary Dance School and Skolen for Samtidsdans. Maia teaches contemporary, ballet, contact improvisation, pilates and more.

Koshi Sabuneti has his training from National Ballet of Zimbabwe and Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo. He has broad experience as a dancer, choreographer and teacher from both Zimbabwe and Norway. Among others he has worked as a dancer with the National Ballet of Zimbabwe and Carte Blanche here in Norway.  Koshi’s subjects include jazz, contemporary, ballet, hip hop and African dance.

Mona Økland is the principal. Originally she is trained in dance at Laban Centre, London and has also a degree in classical Greek language. She has worked for many years as a dance teacher in the school.

Practical staff
Margunn Bjelland is matron, and responsible for the kitchen, the living areas and the welfare of the students. She is a kind substitute mum if you feel under the weather or ill, she makes sure the school always looks good and cosy, and she is good at making people feel at home.

Jostein Svalland is our friendly caretaker, he fixes everything quicker than you can say 'problem', he is everywhere, talks to everyone, helps where needed, but also expects the rest of us to make an effort, when necessary.

In the office you will find Hanne Marie Sætre, who is responsible for the economy and deals with the bills, payment, accountancy and budget, and Unni Landa, our secretary who knows most things about laws and regulations, applications and intake, and all the other little things necessary for a secretary to keep an overview. Hanne Marie and Unni like to be able to help the students with questions or practical matters, and also you may buy envelopes, stamps etc. in the office.

In the kitchen you will find the cooks Nina and Halldis who make meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, rolls, cakes and other delicious things, and sometimes Alvrun who also works as a cleaner. Marta is our other cleaner and kitchen assistant, and to take night duties on weekends we have Britt and Helen.