Acknowledgments
I want to start by thanking my supervisors, Dániel Péter Biró and Örjan Sandred, whose generosity, both in time and wisdom, has been a guiding light throughout this project. This project would not have been possible without their thoughtful mentorship and guidance.
I also owe a lot to my colleagues –Sergej Tchirkov, Tijs Ham, Stephan Meidell, Kjetil Møster, Thorolf Tuestad, Craig Wells, Ingvill Morlandstø, Bruno Talasacchi Masia, Késia Decoté Rodrigues, Diana Galakhova, Feronia Weinberg, Christian Stene, Anette Thorsheim, Simon Gilbertson, Ingrid Geuens, Eva Vukich, Chi-Yen Chang and Ole Kristian Einarsen– for the great exchanges and camaraderie.
A heartfelt thanks to all the musicians and technicians who took part in my final concert and made previous projects possible: Vokalensemblet Tabula Rasa, Elide Sulsenti, Ludvig Lindström, JÓR saxophone quartet, Quasar saxophone quartet, Jostein Gundersen, Hans Knut Sveen, Schola Heidelberg, Guillermo Anzorena, Lucas Fels, Cármen Bóveda, Edvard Grieg Kor, Hanna Veits, Sara Baier, Clara Dietze, Kayleigh Neff, Julie Hasfjord, Blaž Stajnko, Alexander Fiske-Fosse, Eivind Bjørsvik, and Ruben Olsen Lærk.
A big thank you to Davide Bertolini, Julien Vincenot, and Stylianos Dimou for your priceless technical and artistic advice.
I would also like to thank the students in the Composition Seminar at the Grieg Academy over the years for their insights and shared learning. A special thanks to Ana Maria Oancea and Emiliano Ortiz for always being there to assist me whenever I needed help.
Special thanks to Andrea Urstad Toft for her invaluable collaboration over the years of this project.
I also want to thank my colleagues from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Bergen who took part and enriched my project: Karsten Specht, Ryan McCardle, and Kjetil Vikene.
Einar Røttingen and Randi Rolvsjord, thank you for your support as heads of research and department. Thanks also to Karen-Sophie Schjøtt Olsaker and the administrative staff at the Grieg Academy and KMD.
To my dear friends Anders Hannevold and Francisco Corthey. Your friendship, advice, and support has been very important.
A huge thank you to Eva and Steinar Hannevold for becoming my family in Bergen.
To Ingrid Hannevold for your unconditional love and encouragement. This work is for you.
And last but definitely not least, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family for always being there for me, no matter how far apart we may be.