Since its inception, Musikkgalleriet has presented over 170 concerts for more than 4,600 audience members across the country, from Grimstad to Tromsø. With a communicative approach that combines high artistic quality with closeness and accessibility, they invite audiences into a holistic artistic experience characterized by atmosphere, reflection, and engagement.

The duo has been engaged by a range of municipalities through the Cultural Rucksack for Seniors (Den kulturelle spaserstokken) and has received support from, among others, the Arts Council Norway (Kulturrådet), Creo’s copyright fund, the Bergesen Foundation, and the Fund for Performing Artists.

In 2024 and 2025, soprano Angelle Khachik has substituted for Marylin during her maternity leave. Now all three return to present a program featuring music by composers from Northern Norway and Trøndelag. This is the first time Operakafeen has presented a program with a particular focus on an older audience.

About Musikkgalleriet

The duo is committed to presenting music and art of high quality in an accessible and engaging manner, fostering a close and meaningful connection with their audience. Musikkgalleriet’s aim is for art and music to reinforce each other’s impact and take the audience on a journey through emotions, atmospheres, and expressive forms.

The duo has been engaged by Den kulturelle spaserstokken in Asker, Bærum, Lørenskog, Aurskog-Høland, Sør-Aurdal, Nord-Aurdal, Ringerike, Hole, Gran, Lunner, Vestby, Frogn, Vefsn, Alstahaug, Rana, and Tromsø. Musikkgalleriet has also performed individual concerts at Carpe Diem dementia village, at virtually all senior centers in Bærum municipality, senior centers in Oslo municipality, universities for seniors and senior academies, activity centers, volunteer hubs, churches, concert halls, cultural centers, and various other performance venues.

The duo has previously received support from the Arts Council Norway (Kulturrådet), Creo’s copyright fund, the Fund for Performing Artists, the Bergesen Foundation, and Nordland County Municipality for their projects. Highlights include concerts at Stormen Concert Hall in Bodø, Tromsø Cultural House, Bærum Cultural House, Musikkens Venner Nordhordland, Musikkens Venner Grimstad, the Petter Dass Museum in Alstahaug, and Trosterudvillaen in Oslo.

Siril Valberg is originally from Mosjøen in Nordland, but moved to Oslo in 2010 to study and is now based in Eiksmarka in Bærum. She is a classically trained pianist with a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Norwegian Academy of Music (Norges musikkhøgskole), graduating in spring 2017.

Since her student years, she has been an active performing musician, appearing at events such as the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, Oslo Church Music Festival, Festspillene på Helgeland, and Kaunas Pianofest in Lithuania. In 2019, she organized a tour featuring the complete piano works of David Monrad Johansen, with concerts in venues including Asker Culture House, Kongsberg Music Theatre, Buen Kulturhus, and Vennesla Library.

Siril has performed in the presence of His Majesty the King, received several awards and scholarships, contributed to multiple recordings, and appeared on stages such as Troldhaugen in Bergen, the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, and the University of Oslo Aula. She is a sought-after chamber musician, accompanist, and soloist, collaborating regularly with choirs, orchestras, and a wide range of musicians. She is also a permanent pianist in the interdisciplinary trio “På spissen,” together with pianist Julie Ye and ballet dancer Julie Schartum Dokken.

Marilyn Almeida is originally from Stabekk and currently resides in Begnadalen in Valdres. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in classical vocal performance from the Norwegian Academy of Music and Barratt Due Institute of Music, as well as practical pedagogical training and further education in children’s choir leadership.

She has received several awards and grants, worked extensively as a soprano soloist with various choirs and orchestras, and performed in numerous countries including Japan, Chile, Italy, Germany, and across the Nordic region. During her master’s studies, she focused on the intersection of art and music, completing her degree in collaboration with curator Lin Stafne-Pfisterer at the National Gallery, presenting three concert-lectures there to great success.

One of these was a walking guided performance with live music, including vocal improvisation inspired by Edvard Munch’s The Scream. She has been featured in Aftenposten’s portrait series “Remember the Name” and performed excerpts from Madama Butterfly at the opening of the “Japanomania” exhibition in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.

Angelle Khachik (they/them), soprano, curator, and performance artist

In 2024 and 2025, Angelle has been substituting for Marilyn during her maternity leave. Now all three come together to present a program featuring music by composers from Northern Norway and Trøndelag.

Angelle is a young soprano from Trondheim who began their musical journey at the opera school in Stjørdal. They hold degrees from Barratt Due Institute of Music and the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (Operahøgskolen), where they completed their master’s degree in 2020.

They have performed roles such as Pamina in The Magic Flute, Sandmännchen in Hänsel und Gretel (DNOB 2019), Taumännchen in Hänsel und Gretel, and Clorinda in Il Combattimento at Oslo Early/Gamle Raadhus Scene. Angelle made their debut as Gran Sacerdotessa at Oscarsborg Opera in 2019, and premiered their own composition in Observation Room at the Ultima Festival in 2020. In 2021, they premiered The Boatswain’s Mate – 2nd Generation in Norway and Sweden, in the role of Mrs. Waters.

Angelle has appeared as soprano soloist in numerous concerts and festivals across Norway. As co-founder of Norway’s first queer opera company, “Skeive Stemmer” (2019), they have produced and performed in several projects both nationally and internationally.

They debuted in the role of Fru Ford in 2022 at Rosendal Theatre in Trondheim. In 2023, Skeive Stemmer was invited to present a production at the Grimeborn Opera Festival in London, as the first Norwegian company ever to do so. In June 2023, they sang the role of Alice B. Toklas in 27 by Ricky Ian Gordon at the Norwegian National Opera. In 2024, Angelle debuted in La Traviata with Operaen i Kristiansund and Opera Trøndelag as Annina, and also performed in the world premiere of Kommandanten at Oscarsborg Opera as Influencer and Soldier.