He began his organ studies at the conservatory in Oslo (1896-1900) and continued in Leipzig (1901-02) before he graduated as an organist (1909). Meanwhile he had debuted as flutenist (1903) and was concert master at Centralteatret in Oslo (1908-11). He became the permanent bandmaster (“kapellmester”) at Stavanger theater (1919-20) and afterwards took a position as organist in Hamar.