He studied under Johan Elsmo at Jømna in 1910, and in Kristiania he played a concert at Gamle Logen, where the royal couple were also present.
During this time, he was also involved with Circus Norbech as an electrician, but began studying as an electrical engineer, which he continued in the United States from 1922 to 1928.
In the United States, performed in an ensemble called Angre's Scandia Art Bell Ringers, in a lineup including Georg Holter, Edvard M. Roll, and Albert E.
After returning to Norway in 1928, he was employed by the Carl M. Iversen company as a music salesman and instructor, where he taught some of Norway's future leading accordionists, such as Toralf Tollefsen, Oddvar Nygaard, Rolf Syversen, Alf Blyverket, Arnt Haugen, and Arnstein Johansen.
[8] Akre led several ensembles, including the Aakre Trio with Oscar Skau on guitar and Eugen Martinsen (later Amund Friestad) on violin in 1929; this lineup worked at Oslo nightclubs such as Røde Mølle, Grandkjelleren, and Original Pilsen.