Sara Aimée Smiseth
Born in Oslo, Norway, Sara Aimée Smiseth pursued her musical education at the Norwegian Academy of Music and the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. She has distinguished herself through her unique combination of verbal and musical storytelling, weaving the history and relevance of her subjects into virtuosic piano performances. Since completing her studies in 2014, she has toured extensively in Norway and internationally with her narrated concert productions.
Over the past year, Sara has toured the United States, served as Pianist-in-Residence at the Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen, and released her critically acclaimed debut album, Backer Grøndahl – Piano Works.
Originally from Haugerud in Oslo's Groruddalen district, Sara completed her master's degree in piano performance at the Norwegian Academy of Music (NMH) in 2013 under the guidance of Einar Steen Nøkleberg and Einar Henning Smebye. She also studied on exchange at the Royal Flemish Conservatoire in Brussels and holds a bachelor's degree in Musicology as well as a year of interdisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Oslo. Since graduating, she has toured Norway, Sweden, the United States, and Canada with her self-produced concert performances.
Her performances combine high-level piano artistry with engaging live narration, creating a distinctive and immersive concert experience. Sara has appeared on Norwegian radio as both pianist and narrator, and during the Norwegian Opera's tenth anniversary celebrations, she presented part of her Edvard Grieg concert production on NRK's live television broadcast. In the summer of 2022, she was named "Pianist of the Week" at Troldhaugen.
In 2022, Sara completed her second tour of the United States, featuring the music of Agathe Backer Grøndahl. That same year, she released her debut solo album to strong reviews in several of Norway's leading newspapers.
As a performer and presenter, Sara has led audiences through numerous major concerts and events, including performances on the main stage of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and at the University of Oslo's Aula. She also creates tailor-made concerts for businesses and organizations, with clients including DNV, Nordea, the Norwegian Ministry of Transport, the Association for Heart-Sick Children, and the Church City Mission.
Alongside her freelance career, Sara is affiliated with the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet as a pianist and communicator. Her work includes rehearsing and accompanying productions, delivering introductory lectures, serving as a tour guide, and performing at special events for the Opera and its partners. She has also participated in several digital outreach projects and, since 2021, has toured with the Opera through the Den kulturelle skolesekken programme.
Sara is a highly sought-after choral accompanist and répétiteur, having collaborated with ensembles including the Norwegian Soloists' Choir (Det Norske Solistkor), Schola Cantorum, and Oslo Cathedral Choir. From 2012 to 2015, she served as the regular pianist for the Norwegian Student Choir, accompanying them on numerous performances, including a tour of Japan in 2015.
From 2010 to 2019, Sara was the regular accompanist and répétiteur for Grex Vocalis, contributing to numerous concerts, including the choir's closing concert at the Norwegian Opera, where she also served as master of ceremonies. She was a singer in Kvindelige Studenters Sangforening from 2005 to 2021, frequently accompanying the choir and participating in two CD recordings released by Lawo Classics.
She is also regularly engaged by the Norwegian Choral Association for major events such as Singing Day, KorCruise, and the Summer Choir School.