Olav Jørgen Hegge (died August 26, 2005) was a Norwegian
Hardanger fiddler and
folk dancer with American ties.
He was raised in
Øystre Slidre,
Valdres,
Norway. Many members of his family included fiddlers and dancers. Considered a leading tradition bearer of the Hardanger fiddle and the dance style from his home valley, he both played and danced for over 35 years. He was the recipient of the 1996 Saga Prize (''Saga-prisen'') by
Saga Petroleum ASA. He was named a master teacher by
Norsk Folkemusikk- og Danselag. He was the founder of the
Twin Cities Hardingfelelag of
Minnesota in 1996. He also judged fiddle competitions, both regional and national, and taught Hardanger fiddle at the
University of Oslo and th
Ole Bull Academyin
Voss.
Olav and his wife
Mary Sanford Hegge would trade time throughout the year between Norway and
St. Paul, MN
Saint Paul (abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center o ...
until Olav died August 26, 2005.
Mary continues to dance and teach at the
American Swedish Institute
The American Swedish Institute (ASI) is a museum and cultural center in the Phillips West neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The organization is dedicated to the preservation and study of the historic role Sweden and Swedish A ...
, and
Tapestry Folkdance Center.
''Olav Jørgen Hegge and Mary S. Hegge'' (Hardanger Fiddle Association of America)
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Resources
External links
Twin Cities Hardingfelelag websiteHegge Scholarship Winners
Year of birth missing
2005 deaths
Norwegian fiddlers
Male violinists
Norwegian male dancers
Folk dancers
{{Norway-musician-stub