Vetrhus, Åshild

Åshild Vetrhus has devoted a great deal of time to learning the distinctive funeral dirges of Suldal and the songs sung by dirge-singer Per Vetrhus. Singer Bertha Rafdal is another source of material for her repertoire. Vetrhus holds a degree in music education from the Norwegian Academy of Music and has studied music at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

She is a free-lance musician and teacher, and teaches folk singing at Oslo School of Fine Arts. In 2004 she collaborated with author Inger Bråtveit on a commissioned work for the Eirik Vandvik anniversary celebration in Suldal. She has also set poems by such writers as Ragnar Hovland to music. Vetrhus has qualified for the elite Category A in the National Contest for Traditional Music, is a member of the group Tindra (formed in 2000) and collaborates with fiddler Mari Skeie Ljones and dancer Ingeleiv Berstad.
She is also involved in a project together with the Georgian singer, pianist and composer Russudan Meipariani. She has been the director of the Norwegian Traditional Music and Dance Association since 2006.

Discography

2006: Lukkeleg vaking (Ta:lik)
2006: Gjenklang, various artists (Grappa)
2005: Tvilevise, with Gry Oftedal

Awards

2004: Cultural grant from the Municipality of Suldal
2006: Nominated for a Spellemannspris (Norwegian Grammy) for Lukkeleg vaking
2006: Nominated for a Spellemannspris (Norwegian Grammy) for Juledrøm

Producer

2006: Juledrøm, with Majorstuen (MFC)