Mathias Hagen is a saxophonist and composer from Norway. He started with music at an early age and discovered the saxophone through the local marching band when he was nine. In his youth, him and his family lived in Nepal for five years, and during this time he was introduced to jazz and improvisation, attending the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory. Returning to Norway he continued pursuing music through a high school music program and went on to study a bachelor in music performance at the Faculty of Performing Arts in Stavanger and a masters degree in music performance and composition (NoCom) at the The Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg.
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Hagen has worked extensively both as a leader and sideman in various projects with tours and concerts in Scandinavia, Estonia Scotland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, South Africa, Italy and Nepal. As a leader he has had two long lasting groups "New Eyes" and "GARDEN" which both have upcoming album releases. In 2018 he was awarded the "Giorgio Gaslini International Award".
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Hagen currently resides in Oslo where he spends his time playing concerts, writing music and teaching.
