Choirs and orchestras in Oslo

Grorud skole, Grorud

A school band based at Grorud school. The band takes children from Grorud school, Nordtvet school and the schools at Romsås, so it is not only for the pupils of one school. Aspirants are admitted from the lower grades, instruments are borrowed from the band, and tuition happens within the band itself.

ages 7-18

Holmlia, Søndre Nordstrand

Holmlia's own string orchestra for children and young people aged six to eighteen, with professional teachers. Members play violin, viola and cello together rather than alone, and the orchestra welcomes both beginners and those who have played for a while.

ages 6-18

Nordberg kirke, Kringsjågrenda 1, Nordre Aker

A children's gospel choir in Nordberg parish at Kringsjå, with two groups. Lille-Bago is for children from four up to and including year 2 and rehearses on Wednesdays 5-5.45pm, and Store-Bago is for years 3 and 4 and rehearses on Wednesdays 6-7.15pm. Both meet in the parish room next to the church. Children's gospel is more rhythmic than the classical choir repertoire. You sign up by contacting the choir's contact person.

ages 4-10

Høybråten skole, Stovner

A children's string orchestra rehearsing at Høybråten skole, with members also from other schools and districts. Tuition on violin and cello and playing together in an orchestra, with separate junior and senior rehearsals.

ages 7-16

Lilleborg skole, Sagene

A school band at Lilleborg school in Torshov, for children and young people. Beginners start with no prior knowledge and borrow an instrument from the band.

ages 8-18

Teisenveien 40, Alna

School band at Bryn school in Teisen, rehearsing on Tuesdays during after-school hours. The band takes beginners and lets each child start at their own level, so no prior experience is needed. Instruments are lent out by the band.

ages 7-18

Møllergata skole, Sentrum

The city's oldest school band, founded in 1901, at Møllergata school in the middle of the city centre, with room for new aspirants every year. The band was awarded the City of Oslo's culture prize in 2017. Children get instrument tuition and play in the band without the family having to buy an instrument.

ages 7-18

Ruseløkka skole, Frogner

A choir school for girls who love to sing, from age 7 and up, with around 120 members across four choirs by age: the recruitment group (grades 2-3), the aspirant choir (grades 4-6), the main choir (grades 7-10) and the studio choir for the oldest. Admission is by audition, and the singers get thorough training with weekly rehearsals, individual lessons, concerts, recordings and tours at home and abroad. Rehearsals are at Ruseløkka school; the office is at Sentralen.

ages 7-18

Bygdøy skole, Strømsborgveien 12, Frogner

The school choir at Bygdøy, with members from years 2 to 7 and age-divided projects and groups for older youth as well. Conductor Silje Worquenesh Østby Kleiven was named children's choir conductor of the year in 2021, and the choir performs both at the school and beyond, including Lucia concerts. The school sits on the Bygdøy peninsula, surrounded by sea, fields and forest.

ages 7-13

Grønland kirke, Gamle Oslo

Oslo's own boys' choir rehearsing in Grønland church, a member of Ung i Kor Oslo. The choir has a broad repertoire and admits boys from around age eight. The choir is open to all boys and men who enjoy singing: a high standard is expected of the older choristers, while the youngest learn what they need along the way. With support from the Scheibler foundation the choir can offer reduced or waived membership fees, and a warm meal at every rehearsal.

ages 8-18

Godlia skole, Østensjø

A joint school choir for Godlia and Trasop, two neighbouring schools in Østensjø that share both a choir and a brass band. A member of Ung i Kor Oslo.

ages 6-13

Munkerud skole, Nordstrand

The school choir at Munkerud school in Nordstrand, a member of Ung i Kor Oslo. The choir is for years 2 to 7, has around twenty-five members and rehearses after school on Wednesdays. They sing at school events, walk in the 17 May parade and hold a Christmas concert in Nordstrand church.

ages 7-13

Oslo domkirke, Sentrum

A chamber choir attached to Oslo Cathedral, rehearsing in the church on Monday evenings. The choir admits singers from age 16 (and has members into their twenties), performing sacred music at a high level in one of the country's best-known church spaces. For young people who have sung in a children's choir and want to take their voice further.

ages 16-18

Furuset skole, Alna

A school band for pupils at Furuset school. Children start as beginners with no prior experience and learn the instrument by playing with others.

ages 7-18

Rudolf Steinerskolen i Oslo, Flyveien 2, Vestre Aker

The string orchestra at the Rudolf Steiner school at Hovseter, divided into Ministryk, Lillestryk and Storestryk plus a chamber group. Ministryk is for the newest beginners, working on playing position, rhythm games, note reading and listening to one another before moving on. All the groups have a fixed rehearsal day on Mondays, and the youngest rehearse within after-school hours. Which group a pupil joins is decided by the teacher and conductor from a mix of level and age.

ages 6-18

Bestum skole, Ullern

School band at Bestum school, playing together every Tuesday during after-school hours, with one-to-one lessons another day of the week. New beginners start from year 3 or above, with no prior experience, and borrow an instrument from the band free of charge.

ages 8-18

Lindeberg skole, Alna

A school band since 1976, rehearsing at Lindeberg school. It recruits pupils from Jeriko, Lindeberg and Skjønnhaug schools. Group teaching on Wednesdays and individual lessons on Tuesdays.

ages 7-18

Høybråten skole, Stovner

A school band for children at Høybråten which turned a hundred in 2026, with around 64 members. The band lends out instruments, and its beginner intake means you can start with no prior knowledge. The band is a fixture of the district's 17 May celebrations.

ages 8-18

Bentsebrua ungdomsskole, Sagene

A string orchestra for children and young people, teaching violin, viola, cello and double bass. The orchestra is attached to Lilleborg school but takes pupils from across Oslo, and rehearses in Torshov, mainly at Bentsebrua lower secondary school. It runs projects letting the pupils try different musical genres rather than only classical repertoire. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 6-18

Bjørndal skole, Søndre Nordstrand

A school band for the children at Bjørndal. The band is open to everyone, and members have stayed on from the first year of primary school right through upper secondary. You learn an instrument from scratch and play together from the start, and the youngest have their individual lessons during after-school hours.

ages 6-18

Berg skole, Nordre Aker

The school choir at Berg, affiliated with Ung i Kor Oslo. The choir rehearses at the school and is open to the children who go there, with no audition and no requirement to read music beforehand.

ages 6-13

Ekeberg skole, Nordstrand

A school band founded in 1957, with aspirant, junior and main ensembles. Members are children and young people from eight to eighteen, and the band holds instrument try-outs in spring.

ages 8-18

Hallagerbakken skole, Søndre Nordstrand

A children's and youth choir founded in 1982, rehearsing at Hallagerbakken school on Wednesdays. The choir has around eighty children across four groups: the aspirant choir, the children's choir, the youth choir and the vocal group. A member of Ung i Kor Oslo.

ages 6-18

Stovner skole, Stovner

A children's orchestra rehearsing at Stovner skole, a member of the Norwegian youth orchestra federation (UNOF). Tuition on an orchestral instrument and playing together in an orchestra.

ages 7-16

Høyenhall skole, Østensjø

A pupils' choir that has been running since 1967. It is led by a professional conductor and stages its own show or concert every year. It rehearses on Wednesdays in the school hall and is split in three. Times checked 23.10.2026: the main choir for years 5-10 at 2-2.45pm, the mini choir for years 1-2 at 2.45-3.15pm and the junior choir for years 3-4 at 3-4pm. A member of Ung i Kor Oslo, with its own website and board.

ages 6-16

St. Sunniva skole, St. Hanshaugen

A parent-run recorder orchestra of between 60 and 70 pupils aged 7 to 25, at St. Sunniva school since 1989. A narrow and unusual offering: the recorder as ensemble playing rather than something done alone in a music lesson. Oslo's municipal arts school organises and is responsible for the instrument teaching, which takes place both in groups and individual lessons, with ensemble playing across levels. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 7-18

Øveriet, Waldemar Thranes gate 98, Grünerløkka

A non-profit association bringing children and adults together around orchestral playing, concerts and art activities. Courses and private lessons for children from age 3 and up, for beginners and for those who have played before. Children and adults have separate courses, and teaching is spread across several venues. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 3-17

Bolteløkka skole, St. Hanshaugen

A girls' choir started in 2004 by Linn Andrea Fuglseth, with around 120 girls from years 1 to 7 from Bolteløkka school and the schools around it. The choir marked twenty years in 2024, rehearses weekly at the school and has released three albums on Grappa: folk music, Christmas songs and Oslo songs. The repertoire ranges from folk music and jazz to newly written and classical works.

ages 6-13

Tonsen kirke, Bjerke

The children's choir in Tonsen parish, part of the parish's work with children and youth in the north-east of the city. The choir takes part in services and parish events through the year. Contact the parish for rehearsal times and admission.

ages 6-13

Gamle Oslo, Gamle Oslo

KIGO (Culture in Gamle Oslo) runs three children's choirs in the district: Tutti, Allegro and Crescendo, the last based at Gamlebyen school. All are free. No prior experience is needed. KIGO has run cultural activities for children in the district since 2012 and was established as a non-profit in 2015.

ages 6-13