Silje Aker Johnsen

About Silje Aker Johnsen

Silje Aker Johnsen is a soprano and dancer. Initially educated at the Grieg Academy of Music in Bergen and Universität der Künste, Berlin, she also holds a Master’s degree in classical singing from the Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo and a PhD in Artistic Research from the Opera Academy at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts.  She has throughout her studies and career had a strong focus on contemporary music repertoire in addition to baroque and classical vocal repertoire. 

She has interpreted roles such as Io in The Io Passion by Harrison Birtwistle with Berliner Kammeroper in Konzerthaus Berlin and the main female role in A Gentle Spirit by John Tavener with the same company. She received outstanding reviews for her roles in Synne Skouen’s operas Ballerina and Fram and for the solo piece Her, which she created with Erik Dæhlin and performed at The Norwegian National Opera.

Silje Aker Johnsen has given the world premieres of numerous vocal pieces and has guested festivals such as Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Die Donaueschinger Musiktage, Ultima Contemporary Music Festival and Bergen International Festival.  She is a member of Ensemble Neon, who won a Spellemann Prize for their debut album in 2016.  Silje was named Performer of the Year 2013 by The Norwegian Society of Composers.