Nils Harald Sødal

Nils H. Sødal is a singer, stage performer, and author with a PhD in performance psychology. He started his position as a professor at the University of Agder in January 2021. He was born in Kristiansand, but moved to Oslo at the age of 19 to study song at the Norwegian Academy of Music. While in Oslo, Sødal became involved with the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, where he eventually became a permanent soloist. He has also performed at several major opera houses abroad.

In Norway, Sødal has sung with all the professional symphony orchestras and has been a soloist at the Bergen International Festival, Oslo Chamber Music Festival, and Risør Chamber Music Festival. He has also been associated with various theaters, including the Norwegian Theatre.

In 2021, Sødal completed his PhD in performance psychology at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts. In collaboration with, among others, the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports, he studied mental and psychological factors related to performing under pressure. Based on this work, he has taught at the Norwegian Academy of Opera, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Department of Dance at KHiO, Norwegian Academy of Music, Faculty of Fine Arts at UiA, and Barratt Due. In addition, Sødal conducts extensive course and lecture activities within various professional environments ranging from government departments and larger public institutions, private businesses and media companies, to Talent Norway, the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports, the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, and BI Norwegian Business School. Since 2018, he has also been involved in leadership development and coaching at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nils Harald Sødal has published three works of fiction and has contributed to several CD recordings, particularly in connection with new music.