BIOGRAPHY
Tor Ingar Jakobsen is a Norwegian composer, arranger, and pianist. He holds a Cand.Philol. degree in composition, jazz piano, and arrangement from the University of Oslo, earned in 2004. He is best known for his work in musical theater, though he also performs as a concert musician and has toured Europe with various bands and artists, in formats ranging from duos to full orchestras. In addition to musical theater and concert performance, he has composed for film and television. Alongside his performance career, he has lectured at several universities and colleges.
Early Years
Tor Ingar Jakobsen was born in Lena, Østre Toten, Norway, in 1973. He began piano lessons at the age of six and started performing paid gigs by age thirteen. During his teens, he played in various rock and pop bands, often entertaining at local clubs, pubs, and dance halls. In his later teens, he developed an interest in jazz, joining several jazz groups, including a big band where he experimented with his first arrangements.
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In 2004, he earned a Cand.Philol. degree in jazz piano, composition, and arrangement from the University of Oslo. His master’s thesis explored the differences in improvisational styles and techniques between jazz pianists Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, and it is available at the University Library in Oslo.
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Throughout his student years, he continued performing with jazz bands and began experimenting with his own compositions, primarily within jazz quartets. One of his pieces from this period, "Sommertanker," was selected as the summer song of the year by the national broadcaster NRK.
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Musical Theatre
Around 2010, Jakobsen began working in musical theater, which has since become his main focus. He has contributed to numerous productions as a composer, arranger, and keyboardist. A more detailed overview of his work in this field is available here.
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Composer and Arranger
Jakobsen has composed and arranged music across a wide range of formats. His jazz compositions include quartets, quintets, big bands, and cabaret orchestras.
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He has also composed and arranged in classical styles for ensembles such as string quartets, brass quintets, choirs, wind orchestras, and symphony orchestras. Notably, he has composed and arranged several pieces for The Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK), including "Bryllupsmarsj fra Hadeland," "Sommer ved Randsfjorden," and "Fra Biri til Butterfly."
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Teaching
For the past 15 years, Jakobsen has taught jazz piano to students at Toneheim Folkehøyskole. He has also been invited as a guest lecturer at various universities and colleges worldwide, speaking on musical theater, its history, and composing for the genre. Notable institutions include Kristiania University College, NSKI University College, Bårdar, and the University of Oklahoma.
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In 2023, Jakobsen served as an artist-in-residence at the University of Oklahoma, collaborating with students in the musical theater program. Here, the musical Adele's Journey had its first presentation—a work he co-created with New York-based book writer Lisa Diana Shapiro and lyricist Paul Christman.