Scholarships

Bernt Balchen Jr. playing Hardanger fiddle

Bernt Balchen, Jr. Photo courtesy Kjell Bitustøyl.

Olav Jørgen Hegge playing Hardanger fiddle

Olav Jørgen Hegge

Lars Skjervheim playing Hardanger fiddle

Lars Skjervheim

The BERNT BALCHEN, JR., OLAV JØRGEN HEGGE and LARS SKJERVHEIM HARDINGFELE SCHOLARSHIPS to the HFAA Annual Workshop (named in honor of Bernt Balchen, Jr., master fiddle teacher at our early workshops, Olav Jørgen Hegge, founder and leader of the Twin Cities Hardingfelelag, and the master hardingfele player and teacher Lars Skjervheim from Voss, Norway) are open to beginning and intermediate hardingfele students attending the HFAA annual summer workshop. Scholarships cover 100% of the workshop tuition and meals (housing costs are not included). The Hegge scholarship is available thanks to the generosity of the Twin Cities Hardingfelelag, and the Skjervheim scholarship is thanks to the generosity of HFAA founding member Andrea Een in honor of her teacher Lars Skjervheim. Applications must be emailed by April 15 of the award year.

See our history of Hardanger fiddle scholarship awards for past workshops.

For more information, contact scholarships@hfaa.org.

Harold K. Sersland dancing with two partners

Harold K. Sersland with dance partners Alfhild (“Pat") Karlsgodt Peterson and Hilda Karlsgodt Kringstad. Photo courtesy Carol Sersland.

The HAROLD K. SERSLAND YOUNG DANCER SCHOLARSHIP to the HFAA Annual Workshop is available to enthusiasts of any dance genre who are under the age of 30 as a way to encourage greater participation in Norwegian folk dancing among young people. One scholarship is available for attendance at the HFAA's annual Hardanger Fiddle Music and Dance Workshop, and it covers all tuition and meals (housing costs are not included) plus a small stipend. This scholarship is made available thanks to the generosity of Carol Sersland and Morrey Nellis in honor of Carol's father Harold, who immigrated to the United States from Hjartdal, Telemark and whose love of dancing, particularly the telespringar, was passed down to his daughter. Applications must be emailed by April 15 of the award year.

For more information, contact youngdancer@hfaa.org.

Work Scholarships for Attendees of our Annual Workshop

A very limited number of work scholarships covering approximately one-half of the workshop fee are available to support full-time attendance at the annual summer workshop. Workers assist with tasks such as light housekeeping, snack preparation, processing on-site registrations, and collecting concert admissions. If you have skills or an avocation that may be of use, such as videographer, sound technician or medical professional, please let us know. Contact the Workshop Chair at workshopchair@hfaa.org no later than May 1 each year to request a work scholarship. Successful applicants will be notified by May 15; you must send a completed registration form and check for registration and applicable housing fees by the mid-June workshop registration deadline (check the registration form for exact date) to guarantee your position.