Bjørn Solum

Bjørn Solum is one of the most prominent cellists of his generation. He has had a long and distinguished teaching career at the Barratt Due Institute of Music, where he has trained countless cellists who have gone on to become professional musicians in Norwegian and international orchestras.

Solum studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music from 1975 to 1980, first with cellist Frans Helmerson (1975–1978) and later in London with cellist William Pleeth (1978–1980).

He was a founding member of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, alongside Terje Tønnesen, and served as the orchestra’s solo cellist for an extended period. Solum has performed chamber music with many of the world’s leading soloists and chamber musicians, including Mstislav Rostropovich, Maurice André, Joshua Bell, Arve Tellefsen, Elise Båtnes, and Truls Mørk. He has toured internationally with the Oslo Philharmonic and collaborated extensively with some of the world’s most renowned conductors.

Solum has participated in numerous CD recordings with the Oslo Philharmonic and has released Beethoven I and II in collaboration with Kristin Fossheim. He has appeared as a soloist with most of Norway’s professional symphony orchestras, performing works such as Haydn’s Cello Concertos in C and D major, Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto in A minor, Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, and Brahms’ Double Concerto for Violin and Cello with Elise Båtnes.