The Women’s Choral Society of the University of Oslo (Kvindelige Studenters Sangforening — KSS) was founded in 1895 and is the official female choir of the University of Oslo. As the world’s oldest academic choir for women, it can look back on 128 years and the creation of traditions that are still alive today. The choir has played an important role for the university and for the feminist movement, whilst at the same time securing its place in music history through its musical accomplishments and premiere performances of works for female choir.
KSS is an organisation with lofty ambitions and a high level of achievement. In 2006 the choir was awarded First Prize for female choirs at the Musica Mundi International Competition in Riva del Garda, Italy. In 2015 and 2019 the choir participated in the European Choir Games and Grand Prix of Nations in Magdeburg and Gothenburg, respectively, and emerged victorious both times in the category “Folklore” and in “Open Competition”. These accomplishments have led to KSS’s ranking since 2015 as the world’s best female choir by the music organisation Interkultur, in addition to a third place in “Folklore” and a 21st place independent of class (as of 2023). During the Tolosa Choral Contest in Basque Country, Spain in 2017, KSS achieved a second place in the category “Folklore”, and in the spring of 2019 the choir won a third place in the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy Competition in Cork, Ireland.
Magnificat is the choir’s sixth release on the LAWO Classics label, all under the direction of conductor Marit Tøndel Bodsberg Weyde. The Christmas album Arme jord ha jolefred (LWC1009) came first in 2009, and the associated music video Folkefrelsar won a second place in the European Choral Video Awards in 2012. Brahms (LWC1054), a selection of Johannes Brahms’s compositions for female choir, was released in 2013, followed by Kom regn (LWC1134), a collection of Norwegian contemporary music, in 2017, and, one year later, Som den gylne sol frembryter (LWC1144), featuring Norwegian National Romantic music and traditional folk music. The choir’s second Christmas album, Stille som sne (LWC1209), was released in 2020 to good reviews, including a rating ‘6’ (of 6) by ‘NRK Klassisk’ (The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s classical music station). “Wow, this is a true gem! Stille som sne is without a doubt this year’s best Christmas album.” (Eystein Sandvik, 30 November 2020)

Marit Tøndel Bodsberg Weyde (b. 1981) comes from Byneset in Trøndelag and has been the conductor of The Women’s Choral Society of the University of Oslo (Kvindelige Studenters Sangforening — KSS) since 2008.
As a conductor, flautist and church musician she has worked with a number of Norway’s leading choirs and ensembles. In addition to KSS, she is the conductor and artistic director of the professional vocal ensemble Kilden Vokalensemble in Kristiansand and the Norwegian Student Choral Society. She teaches conducting at the Norwegian Academy of Music and has served as jury member at competitions in Norway and abroad, and she offers seminars, workshops and master classes on a regular basis for both conductors and singers.
Bodsberg Weyde has contributed to a long list of recordings, and she has won numerous national and international competitions. In the autumn of 2012, she received the Conductor Prize for KSS’s performance at Norway’s national choral competition, and in 2015 and 2019 she led KSS to victory in two classifications during the European Choir Games and Grand Prix of Nations. All the choir’s releases with Bodsberg Weyde as conductor have received glowing reviews. Critics laud her attention to text and phrasing and emphasize her ability to create a really listener-friendly album. She was awarded the Conductor Prize in the autumn of 2015, whilst competing with the Vestoppland Chamber Choir at the Canta al Mar Barcelona competition, and in 2017 she won two first places and a Conductor Prize whilst conducting the Norwegian Student Choral Society at the Sixth International Anton Bruckner Choir Competition.

Inger-Lise Ulsrud is Professor of Organ and Organ Improvisation at the Norwegian Acad­emy of Music, and organist at Uranienborg Church in Oslo. In addition to her extensive concert engagements in Russia and through­out Europe, she offers regular master classes in Norway and abroad. She has contributed to a number of recordings, and her solo album releases include Meditatio, two organ cycles of Kjell Mørk Karlsen, and Olivier Messiaen: Early Organ Works. She has collaborated with KSS on a number of occasions, including at the choir’s annual Christmas concerts, and on the Brahms release in 2013.
Ulsrud was a member of the Chorale Book Committee in connection with the publication of the Norwegian Hymnal in 2013. She has been a board member of the Oslo International Church Music Festival, a jury member at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, for the Oslo Organ Festival, and at other international organ competitions. For a number of years she has been head of the Department of Church Music at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Her instruction book on organ improvisation, En improvisators betroelser, was published by Cantando Musikkforlag in the autumn of 2018.