Edvard Munch’s iconic The Scream is among the most celebrated and recognized images in art history.
The Norwegian School MAYA Musikk & Kulturskole / Maya's School of Music and Performing Arts celebrates the opening of its first branch in New York City! At the age of 18, Maya moved from Lista in Farsund County to Oslo to study for a degree as muscian and music teacher . She founded MAYA Musikk & Kulturskole 1981 in Oslo, Norway. Over the years the school has developed into Norway’s largest private school of music, dance, theater and fine arts.
Maya’s School of Music and Performing Arts mission is to:
- Promote Norwegian culture and strengthen cultural ties between Norway and the US.
- Provide teaching at all levels in music and performing arts.
- Offer high-quality musical instruction, spanning all genres, in instruments and voice.
- Arrange concerts, exhibitions, performances and cultural events, with the focus on Norwegian music and culture.
MAYA'S HARITAGE
Maya was recently interviewed by the Norwegian American Weekly. (Feb. 2014). Click here to read the interview.
Photo: Maya’s father, uncle Herlov Østhassel and his twin brother, Sten Østhassel. The picture was taken in Brooklyn in the 1950’s.Maya’s grandparents and a large part of her family immigrated to the United States in the early 1900’s. They lived in Brooklyn, New York for more than two generations. Maya herself grew up in Lista in the southern part of Norway, but her family always stayed closely connected to New York.
Due to her American background, she is both Norwegian and American citizen. .» She's now looking forward to sharing Norwegian culture and also her vast experience within music and the performing arts with the people of New York".
THE LISTA - NEW YORK CONNECTION
Lista sent a large number of emigrants to the United States in the 1900s. After Oslo and Bergen, New York City became the third largest city of Norwegian population in the world. New York is the place most where most Norwegians from Lista settled when they came to America. The majority of these people lived in Brooklyn. In the early 1950’s and 1960’s, Maya’s parents and other family members moved back to Lista, located in Farsund County in the far south of Norway.
Every year the people of Lista celebrate an event called “The last Weekend in June” or “The American festival”. The American Ambassador in Norway travels from Oslo to Lista each year to open the festival. The festival embraces the deep rooted connection felt by the people of Lista towards the US. The population enthusiastically celebrates the rich cultural exchange that has taken place between the two countries over decades, and reconize that this piece of history has had a great impact on the population. They just love America!
Kennedy at Lista, Norway - art & nature combined. :)
If you like our pics from the Lister region (here: Lista),
remember to like our page/pics and share the good stuff.
J. F. Kennedy
Lista Lighthouse, Norway
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| Click to open MAYA Passport |
In 1981 Maya founded MAYA Musikk & Kulturskole in the Norwegian Capital, Oslo. The school has recently opened its first branch in New York City!
Coming up from May 17th is a full week of exciting events and workshops. As a part of our celebration of the 200th anniversary of Norway constitution we invite to a series of workshops from May 17th. – 24th. Make sure you check out the teaching program.
Maya’s School of Music and Performing Arts mission is to:
- Promote Norwegian culture and strengthen cultural ties between Norway and the US.
- Provide teaching at all levels in music and performing arts.
- Offer high-quality musical instruction, spanning all genres, in instruments and voice.
- Arrange concerts, exhibitions, performances and cultural events, with the focus on Norwegian music and culture.
Whether you are interested in a course in dance, theater, drawing, painting, taking music lessons for fun or want to build a music career, we have dedicated teachers ready to help beginner, intermediate and advanced students of all ages to achieve their goals.
The school offers high-quality music instruction, spanning all genres.
- NORWEGIAN FOLK INSTRUMENTS
- PIANO
- KEYBOARD
- GUITAR
- ELECTRIC GUITAR
- VIOLIN/ FIDDLE
- SINGING / VOCAL TRAINING
Registration is ongoing throughout the semester. Tuition for private lessons is prorated based on your start date.
Pease do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
You can contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The school will gradually expand the educational programs to also include classes in:
MUSIC
- Private/ individual music lessons and group classes in a variety of instruments.
DANCE
- Children’s dancing
- Norwegian folk dance
THEATER
Norwegian Folktales are an important part of our National cultural heritage and identity and an important source of inspiration for Norwegian music, theatre, literature, and film.
Join us in the fantastic folktale world of Asbjørnsen and Moe. As a basis, we will use Norwegian folktales and well-known-plays, and conclude with a performance at the end of the second semester.The focus will be to work on developing essential acting skills. Our aim is to help create an actor that is alive and present on stage. We will look at strengthening vocal and physical skills, as well as the actors work on creating a character.
FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS
- Drawing, painting and scultures
- Courses in rosemaling (traditional Norwegian rose painting).
Norway is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Kittelsen’s work (1914-2014).
He is well-known for his fantastic illustrations of Asbjørnsen og Moe’s folktales. During the workshop, participants will become familiar with Kittelsen’s incredible imagination and creativity. We will also look at his fairytale characters, - such as elves, nymphs, dwarfs and trolls - and use these as a basis to inspire course participants to create their own imaginative drawings.
Maya was recently interviewed by the Norwegian American Weekly. (Feb. 2014). Click here to read the interview.
Maya founded MAYA Musikk & Kulturskole school in the Norwegian capital, Oslo i 1981. Over the years the school has developed into Norway’s largest private school for music, dance, theater and fine arts. She's now looking forward to sharing Norwegian culture and her vast experience of music and the performing arts with people in New York".
Maya's grandparents and a large part of her family immigrated to the United States in the early 1900’s. Her family lived in Brooklyn, New York for more than two generations. Maya herself grew up in Norway, but her family always stayed closely connected to New York. «Coming to NYC is like coming home.» Read More
Maya’s School of Music and Performing Arts offers individual and group lessons on
- PIANO
- KEYBOARD
- GUITAR
- ELECTRIC GUITAR
- VIOLIN
- VIOLA
- SINGING / VOCAL TRAINING
- PERFORMANC
Registration is ongoing throughout the semester. Tuition for private lessons is prorated based on your start date.
Maya's School of Music and Performing Art has recently opened in New York City. The school will gradually expand the educational offerings to include classes in:
MUSIC
- Music lessons for babies and children with parents
- Individual and group instruction in a variety of instruments
- String Orchestra for children
- Band lessons
DANCE
-
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- Children’s dancing – from the age of 3 years
- Dance classes for teens
- Norwegian folk dance
-
THEATER COURSES
The focus will be to work on devoloping essential acting skills. Our aim is to help create an actor that is alive and present on stage. We will look at strengthning vocal and physical skills, as well as the actors work on creating a character.
By using elements such as impro and scene study, students can learn how to free themselves and allow their natural interest in theater and the performing arts to grow even further. But the most important part of this course is to experience the fun of acting and feel the courage to unfold.
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Norwegian fairy tales have always been an important source of inspiration for Norwegian music, theatre, literature, and film. |
CRAFTS
- Drawing and painting
- Courses in resealing (rosemaling, traditional Norwegian rose painting).
Norwegian rosemaling
Rosemaling, the decorative folk painting of Norway is today taught in many areas of Europe and the USA. You can travel to Norway and stay at Toves guest-cottage in the mountain of Gol or take a course at Mayas School of Performing Arts in New York City.
Maya’s School of Music and Performing Arts will arrange courses over 4 days, usually from Thursday to Sunday.
TOVE NESS can make you top quality products within floral paintings (rosemaling),fairy tales, decorative paints and paintings according to your wishes and design.
Pease don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.
You can reach us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
