Son of the composer, conductor and teacher Gunnar Kjeldaas. He studied piano with Rolf Holger, Nicolai Dirdal and Reimar Riefling, organ with Arild Sandvold, conducting with Øivin Fjeldstad and composition with Per Steenberg, Bjarne Brustad, Ludvig Irgens Jensen and Karl Andersen.
He supported the civil resistance work around Hønefoss intensively, especially in churches, and also composed music with clandestine political messages.
