Kaja Vardøen is a composer and lyricist, and one of the founders of KIGO – Kultur i Gamle Oslo.
Together with Sara Lydiksen she started the free culture and music school in 2012, giving children and young people in the Gamle Oslo district choir and instrument tuition at no cost.
Vardøen writes the lyrics and music for the songs the children sing, and is behind the songs on the album «Stjerner og fyrverkeri» with SaraLy and Unge Oslo, which won the 2023 Spellemann Award (the Norwegian Grammy) for best children's music. In 2024 she received the Kardemomme grant for her work developing new music for children, with emphasis on how she involves the children directly in the creative process.
Vardøen combines strong local engagement with nationally recognised musical work – community, craft and a child's perspective in practice.
