Olav Luksengård Mjelva comes from Røros in the Sør- Trøndelag  region of Norway.  He began playing the fiddle at age seven and some years later started playing the Hardanger fiddle.

He is a founding member of both the Norwegian – Swedish ensemble SVER, The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, a trio specialising in Norwegian, Swedish and Shetland fiddle music and also the Rydvall/Mjelva duo alongside Swedish Nyckelharpa player Erik Rydvall with whom they have received several awards.  In addition to this he is also in Copper City Ramblers and several other projects.

He has also written music for several documentaries, short movies and theater projects, and recorded for some of the greatest composers in Hollywood for movies and computer games. 

In 2010 Olav received the prestigious Spelemannprisen, the Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy award for his debut solo album, and in 2011 he received the prize as part of the Unni Boksasp Ensemble. In 2013 he was also awarded the title of Norway’s folk musician of the year.

Olav is highly sought after as a studio musician and has played on more than 50 releases. He is also a widely used instructor and dance musician both in Norway and abroad.