Ragnar Rasmussen

Ragnar Rasmussen (b. 1966) is professor in choir conducting at the Faculty of Fine Arts (Music Conservatory) of the University of Tromsø (Norway) where he also founded the University Choir Mimas (2000). He is currently the conductor of the international Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir (Europe), Kristiansand Soloist Ensemble (Norway) and UArctic World Ensemble (Norway, Canada, Scotland and Russia). In 1999-2011 he was the artistic director of the chamber choir Vokal Nord. In 2008-2010 he was engaged as conductor of the Norwegian National Youth Choir. In 2010 he was the conductor of World Youth Choir and in 2011 of the professional Stavanger Sympfoni orkesters Kammerkoor. He studied with E. Ericson, S. Sköld, C. Metters and J. Panula. As conductor of Mimas and Vokal Nord, he has won numerous first prizes, including several conductor prizes, in choral competitions all over Europe. He won the first prize at the InternationalCompetition for Choral Conductors M. Ventre in Bologna (2001, first edition) and he received several awards from very important institutions. As guest conductor, he works with choirs throughout Europe and he frequently holds lectures and workshops. Ragnar is often member of juries at prestigious international choir and conducting competition and he is active as composer being a member of the Norwegian Society of Composers.