We hope the film gives a good sense of what it’s like to take part in the Valdres Summer Symphony courses. Every year we see children and young people come to Valdres, make new friends, grow as musicians and gain experiences they carry with them long after they leave. The sense of community, enthusiasm and joy of music are at the heart of what we aim to create, and that is exactly what we hope the film captures.
The Right People
Making a film is a process. First, we needed to find a production company that could understand what Valdres Summer Symphony is all about and the story we wanted to tell. We chose High & Low, based in Skedsmokorset, who took on the project within our available resources and delivered a result we are extremely happy with.
Next, we needed to find the people who would become the faces of the film. Luckily, the very first people we approached said yes. Otto and Scarlett allowed us to follow them through long days of filming and became wonderful ambassadors for the joy of making music with us.
Otto’s parents, Olav and Anine, opened their home to the film crew, making several of the scenes possible. These moments may last only a few seconds on screen, but behind them lie many hours of work.
From Oslo to Valdres
The film would not have been possible without our valued partners. We are especially grateful to Valdresruta, represented by Helge Kvame, and NOR-WAY Bussekspress, who provided buses for the filming. Shooting took place in both Oslo and Valdres, helping us tell the story of the journey towards music, friendship and the experiences that await.
We hope to encourage more people to travel by public transport, and we greatly appreciate the support of a local company that safely brings people to and from Valdres every day.
Music by Henning Kraggerud
The music featured in the film is Allegretto in 5/8, composed by Henning Kraggerud. The original plan was for all GNIST participants to perform the piece together with Henning, but practical considerations meant that this wasn't entirely possible.
Nevertheless, we feel the music captures exactly the message we wanted to convey. And it's a melody we never get tired of hearing!
Making It Possible
The Valdres Summer Symphony courses depend on strong partnerships with organisations that share our belief in the power of music to help children and young people develop their talents, build confidence and experience a sense of belonging.
Thanks to the generous support of Kulturtanken, Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, Dextra Musica, Nord-Aurdal Municipality, Innlandet County Council, Valdres Nature and Culture Park, SpareBank 1 Hallingdal Valdres, Talent Norge, Bergesenstiftelsen, Kraftriket, UNOF, Anders Sveaas' Almennyttige Fond, NOR-WAY Bussekspress and JVB, we can continue to offer young musicians exciting musical challenges, memorable experiences and a sense of community that stays with them throughout their lives.
We are deeply grateful for the trust and support we receive from so many dedicated partners and supporters.
