Gert Ohlsson has been living in Värmland since his first year of life.
Gert began playing fiddle when he was 10 years old. Nyckelharpa came in 1969. He was the first fiddler in Värmland who played Nyckelharpa. He played a mix of traditional folk music and classical music from the beginning.
Perhaps Gert was influenced to play music by his grandmothers' brothers who played violin, accordion & guitar in a Gammaldans band.
From 1966-1970 Gert studied to be a music teacher at Musikhögskolan Ingesund in Arvika, Värmland. In 1970 he began teaching children violin playing, singing in a choir and to play in an orchestra.
In 1971 Gert started and for 30 years was the leader of Ransätersstämman. That same year, 1971 Gert started the first workshop in Sweden with traditional music for children and he was the leader for 27 years.
Gert received the Fiddler medal in silver 1972 and become "Riksspelman". Since 1980 he has been a judge in that jury. He is also a "Riksspelman" on Nyckelharpa.
Gert & Ann-Marie were both very involved with the music and dance research conducted in Värmland. "I got the interest of the folk music from Värmland, because I am living here and it is here I met the old fiddlers I learn my tunes from. So I only played the music which was around me."
Gert is the leader of the Gammaldans band: Ransäterspôjkera. They began in 1972. Additionally solo jobs playing for dance classes, concerts on violin and/or Nyckelharpa along with telling stories from "The Good Old Days" occupy his time.
These days Gert is occupied with playing for dance and concerts; teaching workshops, has some private students, is an Expressive Arts Therapist and has patients 1 day every week; still composing new tunes and writing books. Most of the time he is a lecturer talking to the audience about Stress and Burn out, The good Leadership and How to market a concert so you get sold out!
His two most recent CDs: "Ransäterspôjkera - kom igen" and "Gert Ohlsson Riksspelman" will be available at camp.
photos submitted by the artists
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