SONDRE HØYMER
Classical Guitarist
Guitar by Masters
Lessons from "El Libro de oro": Vol. 2
Here is the second volume of lessons selected from Agustín Barrios's El Libro de Oro, showcasing a valuable collaboration between Guitar by Masters, Les Productions d'OZ, and Guitar Salon International (GSI). El Libro de Oro is the title of a valuable series published by Les Productions d'OZ, compiling Barrios's complete works, including his various teaching materials. Remarkable Norwegian guitarist Sondre Høymer has performed lessons 15 to 19 from this collection (originally recorded for GSI) and added his comments and instructions, creating comprehensive and highly practical tutorials.
Sondre Høymer is a Norwegian classical guitarist known for his expressive playing, technical precision, and distinctive musical voice. He obtained his education at the Norwegian Academy of Music and the Akademia Muzyczna w Katowicach under Prof. Marcin Dylla. The British guitarist Graham Anthony Devine describes Høymer as “amongst the very best players of the younger generation (…) playing with compelling musical vision, beautiful sound and complete command of the instrument.”
A hallmark of Høymer’s artistry is that he primarily performs his own repertoire and arrangements. His compositions and musical ideas form the core of his concerts and have helped shape a clear and personal profile on the international stage.
Høymer has distinguished himself in numerous international competitions. He was a finalist in Guitar Masters 2016 in Wrocław and a semifinalist in the GFA International Concert Artist Competition in both 2017 and 2018, where the Paris Guitar Foundation included him among the “five top performances of the day.” In 2014, he won 2nd prize at the Sierra Nevada International Guitar Competition.
His official debut took place in the University Aula in Oslo in 2017. Shortly after, he appeared as a soloist in Concierto de Aranjuez with conductor Eivind Aadland. In 2018, he released Neuralgia with the Vea/Høymer Guitar Duo, in which he performs on a terz guitar. Memoirs Classical Guitar Magazine writes: “a truly passionate and brilliant recording (…) every pluck and legato create the sense of a musical dream.”
As an international performer, Høymer gives concerts regularly in countries including Spain, the USA, Finland, and Norway, and he was the first guitarist to be offered a place in the performance diploma program at the Norwegian Academy of Music. From 2022 to 2024, he worked at the University of Bergen, Department of Music.
Professor Marcin Dylla writes: “Sondre has a strong determination to deepen his knowledge and understanding of interpretative complexity. His playing is elegant, smooth and colorful.”