Sigurd M. Øgaard

Sigurd M. Øgaard Biography

Born in Bergen, Norway, in 1978, Sigurd M. Øgaard began studying the organ with his uncle, Kristen Øgaard, at age ten. In 1996, he attended the International Summer Academy for Organists in Haarlem, Holland. While there, he studied with Professor Piet Kee. From 1997-2002, Sigurd was an organ performance major at the Grieg Academy in Bergen, studying organ under Tor Grønn and Karstein Askeland, and choral conducting under Magnar Mangersnes. As part of his undergraduate work, he spent a semester at the Birmingham Conservatoire in England, where his teachers included David Saint and James Parsons. During his time there, he worked as organ scholar at St Mary's Collegiate Church, Warwick.

In 2002, Sigurd moved to the USA to work as Organist and Assistant Director of Music at First United Methodist Church, Lubbock, Texas, while pursuing a Master's Degree at Texas Tech University. He recently completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting. His teachers have included Dr. John Dickson and Dr. John Hollins.

Sigurd has performed extensively in Norway and abroad. Performance venues have included St. Bavo Church, Haarlem; St. Paul's, Westminster, Birmingham and Coventry Cathedrals (England); and Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis (USA). He has been a featured soloist in the Bergen International Music Festival and the Oslo Church Music Festival.

To contact Sigurd M. Øgaard, email sigurd.m.ogaard@ttu.edu.