Valdres Summer Symphony is proud to present our new Artistic Director, Ann-Helen Moen. Together with Guro Kleven Hagen and Alf Richard Kraggerud – who have previously been responsible for the festival’s musical programming – she will share responsibility for the 2026 program.
Internationally Acclaimed Soprano
Ann-Helen Moen has an extensive international career as a lyrical soprano, with performances on concert stages and at opera houses in Europe, the USA, and Japan. She is also a sought-after teacher and Associate Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Valdres Summer Symphony is a familiar place for her, where she has previously participated both as a performer and as an instructor.
– It is a great joy to be part of creating both small and large musical moments in Valdres – a place I have grown very fond of through my participation as both an artist and a teacher at Valdres Summer Symphony, says Moen. – Together with a fantastic team, it is inspiring to see a new festival take shape. I hope to build on the strong foundation the festival has already laid, while also being a storyteller who listens to the stories I encounter in Valdres.
The interplay between young and established
As a teacher, Moen is passionate about the meeting point between established and young musicians, and how this can shape the festival program in 2026.
– It is in the meeting between generations that the magic happens. With the Papillon program, we have great opportunities in Valdres to form new connections across familiar settings, from the very first rehearsal to standing together on stage. I hope the excitement that builds as we work toward a shared expression will also be felt by the audience, she explains.
Seeing the whole musician
Moen emphasizes that the selection of artists and repertoire for the festival is never left to chance.
– For me, it is important to see the whole musician. Everyone we invite has something truly special to share that fits both the concert venues and the festival’s profile. I focus on creating a program in dialogue with the artists – a mix of the familiar and the unknown – where the musicians themselves are heard. That is why we meet as we do: to listen, and perhaps discover something new from the person behind the instrument, she says.
Welcome to her new role
Mona Kleven, Director of Valdres Summer Symphony, warmly welcomes Ann-Helen to her new role:
– On behalf of Valdres Summer Symphony, I warmly welcome Ann-Helen to her new role. She has already been a valuable part of the festival as both a performer and a teacher, and now we look forward to experiencing her perspectives in the artistic leadership as well. Together with Guro Kleven Hagen and Alf Richard Kraggerud, she will help shape a festival program that honors tradition while also bringing in fresh impulses, says festival director Mona Kleven.