BIO
Torbjørn Heide Arnesen is a Norwegian composer and conductor based in Munich, Germany and Norway.
Widely regarded as one of the most exciting young conductors and composers of his generation, he has worked on projects with the München Philharmonics, Bayerische Staatsoper, Argovia Philharmonic, The Norwegian Navy Band, and the Quasar Saxophone Quartet, and has had his premieres aired on Deutschlandfunk Kultur. He is currently the musical director and conductor of the Accento Orchestra.
As a conductor he is noted for his broad repertoire and accuracy. As a composer, his music takes many colors and shapes and is not strictly bound to a single school of aesthetics.
In addition to performing the standard repertoire, Arnesen is passionate about performing new music and opera by his colleagues, and is in high demand. In 2024/25 alone saw five opera premieres and in 2026 he composed and conducted his own opera, The Death of Sensei.
Arnesen graduated from the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München under Prof. Moritz Eggert. He previously studied at the Grieg Academy in Bergen.
CV
Born Aug. 1994 in Brøstadbotn, NORWAY
Resides and works in Munich, GERMANY and NORWAY
LATEST PROJECTS:
2023/- Accento Orchestra München - Musical director and conductor
2021/- Yearly collaboration with Kari Nordheim in Samklang – combining music, painting and other form of art in an art installation/performance
2026 - Composed and conducted the opera: Death Of Sensei
2025 Composed, conducted and organized mini tour for Norwegian Kven artist Trine Strand
2024 -Collaborated with München Philharmonics and BrainLab on "Beyond Human" AI project, exploring innovative intersections of music and technology
2023 Collaborated with Münchner Opernfestspiele 2024 on own piece: How's Life?
2022 - Composed, conducted, directed video, and wrote libretto for BIOR - Musik-theatrale Inzenierung, delivering a multifaceted musical theatre experience
2022 Arranged and organized renown pianist Misora Osaki to Northern Norway piano tour.
RESIDENCY, GRANTS & AWARDS
2023, Projektstipendien Junge Kunst / Neue Medien für Musik - München
2023, Active member in the Norwegian Composer Association
2023, Johnny Ellings Legat
2022, Ingerid, Synnøve og Elias Fegerstens stiftelse for norske komponister og utøvende musikere
OTHER RELEVANT & Art-Related Contributions
2023 Co-Founder and Conductor of the Novantiqua ensemble
EDUCATION
[2019/2022]: Masters in Composition, Hochschule Für Musik und Theater München, Munich, Germany
[2016/2019]: Bachleor in Music Performance or Composition, Greig Academy , Bergen, Norway
[2015/2016] One-year study in music Education, Bergen, Norway