Knut Christian Jansson studied piano with Jiri Hlinka at the Grieg Academy and with Einar Henning Smebye at the Norwegian Academy of Music. In addition to his piano studies, he completed the church music program at the Grieg Academy.
Today, he combines teaching at the Grieg Academy with his position as cantor at FridalenChurch, where he has established a vibrant “culture church” featuring an extensive concert series. A central focus of this initiative is the broad choral work for children and youth. Collegium Vocale Gutter, Jenter og Ung, with its 170 members aged between 6 and 19, is considered one of the country’s largest choral communities. The choirs regularly perform major church music works such as Händel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem, and they have received numerous awards and honors. In the fall of 2022, Jansson was awarded the Johan Nordahl Brun Prize for his outstanding work at Fridalen Church.
In addition to his role as cantor, Knut is an active pianist who passionately performs both modern compositions and classical masterpieces. He made his debut as a soloist with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra during “De unges konsert” and has since performed as a soloist in a number of settings. In September 2024, he was featured as the soloist in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Royal Norwegian Navy Band. Jansson is also a skilled fortepiano player with a deep interest in historical performance practices. Through collaborations with contemporary composers, he has commissioned and performed new works for the fortepiano.
In the fall of 2022, he released his first recording together with vocalist Hilde Haraldsen Sveen, featuring works by Edvard Grieg and Knut Vaage. He later followed up with two additional albums on his own label, featuring music by Beethoven, Sigurd Fischer Olsen, and Knut Vaage. In the spring of 2025, a new release is planned featuring works by Richard Strauss, again in collaboration with Hilde Haraldsen Sveen.
Knut Vaage: From 20 Glances at Opus 54
Knut Christian Jansson (piano)
Edvard Grieg: Haugtussa, op.67
Mari Eriksmoen (soprano), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
Interval
Edvard Grieg: From Lyric Pieces: Bell Ringing, op.54 no.6
Knut Christian Jansson (piano)
Knut Vaage: Oblique Glance at Haugtussa
Ragnhild Gudbrandsen (voice), Hilde Haraldsen Sveen (soprano), Knut Christian Jansson (piano)
Edvard Grieg: Intermezzo for cello og piano
Julia Hagen (cello), James Baillieu (piano)
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Six Studies in English Folk Song
Timothy Ridout (viola), James Baillieu (piano)
Edvard Grieg: From Seven Childen’s Songs, op.61
Mari Eriksmoen (soprano), Knut Christian Jansson (piano)
Robert Schumann: Märchenbilder, op.113
Timothy Ridout (viola), Yulianna Avdeeva (piano)
Interval
Geirr Tveitt: Piano Sonata No.29, "Sonata etere", op.129
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
