What was your introduction to music?

I started in my school string orchestra, because my parents wanted me to play an instrument. And I was quite “old”, I was nine years old when I started playing the violin.

Eivind AadlandEivind Aadland. Photo ©Alastair Bett

So this was my instrument from the beginning. From the children’s school orchestra, I really began playing the violin, then went on to study professionally and I got my concertmaster job at 24. Concertmaster of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra – Bergen is my home town in Norway.

Were there any musicians in those days who particularly inspired you?

When I started studying, I think I had three teachers who influenced me very much. First, Camilla Wicks, an American-Norwegian violinist, who was my first main teacher. And after that I went to the Yehudi Menuhin School in Switzerland, where I studied and played chamber music with Yehudi Menuhin, who was one of the greatest violinists of his generation. And lastly, I had lessons from Sándor Végh, a Hungarian violinist. These three teachers really influenced me very strongly and inspired me really to try to become the best musician I could be. When...