Geir Knutson
The noted composer, music educator, clinician and adjudicator Geir Knutson was born in Birkeland, Norway on April 8, 1954. As a youth he studied piano and learned to play trumpet, trombone and tuba in his father's band. He received his degrees in music, social studies and English from the University of Oslo and studied privately with Robert Foster, Bruce Pearson and Robert Gifford.
For 15 years Knutson directed bands of the Norwegian school system and the Norwegian Band Association. He received a governmental grant in 1990 which temporarily enabled him to compose full time. He received the Norwegian Band
Association's highest degree in conducting. Currently, he resides in Birkeland.
