Laura Ellestad - Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge

Laura Ellestad is a Hardanger fiddle player, researcher, and educator. She holds a BA in traditional music from the Ole Bull Academy (2012), an MA in performance with thesis from the Norwegian Academy of Music (2014), and a PhD in performance practice from the Norwegian Academy of Music (2023). Ellestad’s research draws on theory and methodology from the fields of ethnomusicology, anthropology, sociology, migration studies, cultural studies, performance studies, and media studies. Her research interests include investigating identity, ethnicity, migration, and gender issues through the lens of traditional/folk music, in both historical and contemporary perspectives. As an active folk music performer, she also integrates practice-based knowledge and perspectives into her research.

Responsibilities

Associate professor (100%)
Programme coordinator for the one-year programme Norwegian Folk Music / Norwegian Folk Art for International Students
Course coordinator for Etnomusikologi, tradisjonsmusikken og samfunnet
Main instrument lessons, Hardanger fiddle and fiddle
Supervision of BA and MA students
Coordinator of the Erasmus+ project TUNE
Responsible for internationalisation at the Department of Traditional Arts and Traditional Music

Publications

Ellestad, L. (2023). Performing Norwegian American. The construction of identity through performances of bygdedans and Norwegian-American old-time music in the Upper Midwest, 1900–1970 [Doctoral dissertation]. The Norwegian Academy of Music. https://nmh.brage.unit.no/nmh-xmlui/handle/11250/3068488

Ellestad, L. (2011). ”Emigrant Hardanger Fiddlers from Valdres, Norway: An Examination of Cultural Contacts”, pp. 53–72 in Øyvind T. Gulliksen (ed.). Norwegian-American Essays 2011. Oslo: Novus forlag.

Ellestad, L. (2010). ”Emigrant Hardanger fiddlers from Valdres, Norway: Their legacies at home and abroad”, pp. 19–34 in Ian Russell & Anna Kearney Guigné (eds.). Crossing Over: Fiddle and Dance Studies from around the North Atlantic 3. Aberdeen: The Elphinstone Institute.

Popular science publications

Ellestad, L. (2015). Slåttespel i ville vesten, Folkemusikk, 75 (4): 32–34.

Ellestad, L. (2015). Valdresspel in America: Oscar O. Hamrey (Ola O. Reishagen) (1884–1943), Sound Post, 32 (4): 10–22.

Ellestad, L. (2015). Valdresspel in America: Trond Eltun (1823–1896), Sound Post, 32 (3): 8–19.

Ellestad, L. (2015). Valdresspel in America: Knut Bendikson Sjåheim (1849–1908), Sound Post, 32 (2): 19–26.

Ellestad, L. (2014). Valdresspel in America: Arne Steinsrud (1799–1878), Sound Post, 31 (4): 22–29.

Ellestad, L. (2013). Bendik Toresson, or Bendik i Nø’n (1827–1882), Sound Post, 30 (3): 8–13.

Ellestad, L. (2010). Emigrant Hardanger Fiddlers: Sam Sorenson, Sound Post, 27 (3): 9–10.

Ellestad, L. (2010). Post, piano og vossaspel, Folkemusikk, 69 (3): 40.

Ellestad, L. (2010). Sam i statane, Folkemusikk, 69 (2): 40.

Ellestad, L. (2008). Saga of the Krøsshaugen Fiddle from Vang in Valdres, Sound Post, 25 (1): 8–16.

Discography

Evelina Petrova Trio. First Dance. Heilo HCD7361, 2019.

Ellestad Wiik Duo. On the Water. Just for the Records JFR719, 2016.

Gudbrandsdølenes spelmannslag. Oslo. Ta:lik TA136CD, 2015.

Laura Ellestad. Valdresspel i Amerika. Ta:lik TA127CD, 2014.