Melsom is 36 years old and comes from Oslo. She has led numerous projects across a wide range of music and festival events, including serving as project lead for the entire Spellemann Awards in 2023. She holds relevant education from BI, OsloMet, the University of Oslo, and NTNU, and has built broad organizational experience along with a strong national and international network

15 artists showcasing the festival’s breadth, power, and artistic direction This year, the festival has placed particular emphasis on artistic diversity, resulting in a program announcement that embraces both audience favorites and boundary-pushing artistic expressions. Among the major names are Cécile McLorin Salvant, CARRTOONS, Marilyn Crispell, and Jaga Jazzist, while artists such as Anatole Muster, Charlotte Dos Santos, Karoline Wallace, and corto.alto represent a new generation that challenges and expands the jazz field. At the same time, space has been made for Norway’s jazz heritage through Ytre Suløens Jass-Ensemble, while the energetic and widely popular Blåsemafian and the hip-hop improvisation phenomenon Harry Mack ensure that the festival’s reach spans both younger and more established audiences.

Music journalist and Moldejazz veteran Petter Pettersson and two former Festival Directors, Jan Ole Otnæs and Hans-Olav Solli has compiled an impressive list of albums recorded at – or born out of – Moldejazz, stretching from 1973 to the present day. The selection highlights legendary concerts, world premieres, and unique collaborations that have helped shape the festival’s rich musical history. From Muddy Waters to Chick Corea, from Arild Andersen to Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, these releases capture the spirit of Moldejazz and its role as a creative meeting place for musicians across generations and genres.