Kode’s composer in residence

As the custodian of the homes of composers Edvard Grieg, Harald Sæverud, and Ole Bull, Kode plays a significant role in preserving a vital aspect of Norway's musical heritage. Through the appointment of a Composer in Residence, we aim to spotlight the contributions of contemporary composers who are currently active.

The program was launched in 2021, and Anna Berg is the fifth Composer in residence at Kode. Earlier composers in residence have been Wolfgang Plagge (2021) and Rebecka Sofia Ahvenniemi (2022), Ørjan Matre (2023) and Andreas Gundersen (2024).

An art of the moment

Throughout the year, the Composer in Residence has the creative freedom to influence the museum's program by designing distinctive concerts and events inspired by their own ideas and visions. Additionally, the composer is tasked with composing an entirely new work, which is scheduled for a premiere towards the year's end.

For Christian Grøvlen, director of the composers’ homes, cultivating contacts with music that is being written today is a powerful tool for communicating the importance of the homes in his charge.

Kode’s composer in residence in 2025

This year’s Composer in Residence at Kode is Anna Linh Nguyen Berg (b. 1992) from Kolbotn, Norway.

“Anna Berg is a significant young artist with a unique musical identity. She is also an engaging communicator and a strong advocate for contemporary music. Berg has much to contribute to the Composer in Residence project, and we are excited to collaborate with her,” says Christian Grøvlen, Director of Music and Composer Homes at Kode.

Berg’s work is regularly featured on the European contemporary art scene, and she is a versatile composer who writes for all types of ensembles, as well as for film, dance, and theater. Recently, she composed the score for Drømmer (2024) by director Dag Johan Haugerud and appeared as an actor in Haugerud’s film Kjærlighet (2024), where she plays herself.

Throughout the year, Berg will shape Kode’s program with concerts and events. She will also compose a commissioned piece to premiere in Bergen in November.

“I look forward to collaborating with the museum to create exciting meeting places for audiences throughout the year,” says Anna Berg.

“In my music, I often draw inspiration from timeless themes such as life and death and rituals from various cultures, including Vietnam, where my father is from. With my music, I aim to create a reflective space for listeners, offering room for new perspectives and perhaps entirely fresh thoughts on life’s greater connections,” says Berg.

We look forward to commissioned works and a variety of other projects, which will be developed and launched throughout the year. Stay tuned!