NASOL – The National Association of Norwegian Symphony Orchestras was founded in 1948 when the amateur orchestras in Norway saw the need for a community. The orchestras had an opening for those who never received a musical education or some education, but no musician’s job. The orchestras function as a concert arena for both younger and older musicians, where professional musicians also can find a place in our orchestras. Today, NASOL’s organization consists of a total of 57 orchestras across the country. The organization turned 75 years in 2023 and held a large-scale anniversary concert in the Ridehuset concert stage in Oslo. The NASOL orchestra was conducted by Trond Husebø for that occasion. As an anniversary gift to the organisation’s orchestras, NASOL commissioned eight new works by renowned Norwegian composers, which will receive their first performances during 2023 and 2024. NASOL organizes the Vestland Summer Symphony every year – in 2024 for the 46th time. Here, musicians from all over the country meet for education, chamber concerts and orchestral concerts with renowned instructors and conductors. In 2024, Haldis Rønning will conduct, among other things, Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 9.
The managing director of NASOL is Jan Ola Amundsen, who is himself a musician and conductor. Amundsen has led NASOL since 1982.
The board of NASOL consists of a federation leader, as well as four board members and three deputy board members. NASOL’s vision is «Living symphonic music throughout Norway».