2024
2nd Prize
Universal Marimba Competition — Belgium
Youth Duo · Motus Percussion Duo
Biography
Ola Sønstebø
Ola Sønstebø is a Norwegian percussionist from Lier with a particular focus on solo work and chamber music. He is known for his energetic expression, musical curiosity and commitment to exploring the many musical possibilities of percussion.
Ola works with solo repertoire, solo engagements with orchestra and chamber music, and wants to give audiences the opportunity to experience percussion in a variety of contexts.
Ola’s musical journey began at the age of eight at Lier kulturskole, where he studied with Ellen Kathrine Trelease Eriksen.
At the age of 13 he was accepted into the Talent Development Programme (TUP) at the Norwegian Academy of Music, and later continued in Unge Musikere. The programmes gave him an early opportunity to work purposefully with percussion, meet other young musicians and gain experience through concerts and musical projects.
After upper secondary school at Edvard Munch videregående skole, he began studying at the Norwegian Academy of Music.
Ola is currently completing his fourth year of the Bachelor’s programme in classical percussion at the Norwegian Academy of Music, where he studies with Kjell Tore Innervik, Håkon Stene and Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen.
Previously he has studied with Bjørn Løken, Tom Vissgren, Christopher Lane and Rob Waring.
In the 2025/2026 academic year, Ola was an exchange student at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, where he studied with Prof. Alexej Gerassimez.
His studies have allowed him to encounter different musical traditions and teachers, and to continue developing both as a performer and musician.
Ola gained his first orchestral experience at the age of 12 at Valdres Sommersymfoni in 2016. He later became a member of the Norwegian Youth Orchestra (NUSO).
At 16 he was accepted into Ung Filharmoni, where he participated from 2020 to 2024. Through the programme he played alongside musicians from the Oslo Philharmonic and worked with a broad symphonic repertoire under established conductors and musicians.
In 2024 he became part of the Norwegian National Youth Orchestra for the first time, participating in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
A highlight came in 2022, when Ola performed the snare drum solo in Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra at Oslo Concert House, with the Oslo Philharmonic on stage.
These experiences have given him broad insight into orchestral life and the many different roles percussion can play in a symphonic work.
Ola works primarily as a soloist and chamber musician. He has performed solo repertoire, appeared as a soloist with orchestra and played in a variety of chamber-music settings.
For Ola, it is about exploring what happens when percussion takes centre stage. Percussion is often associated with the orchestra, but the instruments can also carry an entire concert alone — or take on entirely different roles when they meet other musicians.
Through his concerts, Ola wants to let audiences experience this side of percussion and discover how much the instrument can encompass — from sound and melody to rhythm, movement and energy.
Chamber music is an important part of Ola’s work.
Together with Magnus Lille Haugen, he forms Motus Percussion Duo. The duo explores and communicates repertoire for percussion duo through concerts, competitions and their own artistic projects.
Through Motus they work with both existing repertoire and new musical ideas, seeking to show how two percussionists can create a complete musical expression together.
Prizes
2024
Winner
Midgardkonkurransen
Motus Percussion Duo
2023
Winner — Platinum Medalist
Global International Music Competition Online
2023
Winner — Platinum Medalist
Nobel-Artist International Music Competition
2023
Winner — Percussion, Class 3
UMM National Final
2023
Winner
Voksen Festivalen
2021
2nd Place
Musician of the Year — Master Category
London Young Musician
2021
1st Prize
North International Music Competition
What percussion can be
Percussion can be much more than rhythm.
Percussion can be sound, melody, rhythm, movement and energy. It can be large and physical, but also small and detailed. It can stand alone, or become part of a musical collaboration.
Ola wants to give audiences the opportunity to experience this breadth — and to hear percussion in a way they may not have heard it before.
He wants to develop an international career as a soloist and chamber musician, with solo concerts, solo engagements with orchestra and collaborations with other musicians as central parts of his work.