Orchestra Courses – Reimagined

14–18 October 2026 | Mo i Rana, Norway

As part of the Forum programme, participants are invited to experience NordSync Lab #5, a practical artistic and educational laboratory exploring new approaches to traditional orchestra courses.

The Lab brings together professional musicians, music educators, amateur performers, and young musicians from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Through rehearsals, workshops, and collaborative performances, participants investigate how orchestra courses can become broader meeting places for artistic development, education, recruitment, and international cultural exchange.

An important part of the Lab is the collaboration with Nordic Youth Music Initiative – Helgeland 2026, which brings together approximately 120 participants from the three countries.

The project provides a practical example of how music schools, voluntary orchestra associations, and professional musicians can collaborate on larger international productions.

The artistic work culminates in a public performance of Nordisk Suite by composer Bodvar Drotninghaug Moe.

Main Artistic Presentation

Date: Friday, 16 October 2026
Time: 17:00–18:00
Location: Spektrum Meyergården, Mo i Rana

The Lab continues throughout the weekend with professional exchange, workshops, and a closing presentation in Nesna.

---

NordSync Showcase

Nordisk Suite – Nordic Youth Music Initiative

A major highlight of the programme is the performance of Nordisk Suite, composed by Norwegian composer Bodvar Drotninghaug Moe.

The production brings together professional musicians, soloists, and young orchestra participants from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Developed through the collaboration between NordSync Project, regional music schools, and voluntary cultural organisations, the project demonstrates how international artistic cooperation can create meaningful educational opportunities for young musicians.

The performance also serves as the main artistic presentation of NordSync Lab #5 – Orchestra Courses Reimagined.

Date: Friday, 16 October 2026
Time: 17:00–18:00
Location: Spektrum Meyergården, Mo i Rana

---

Cooperation – Smeltedigelen Festival

NordSync Forum #5 takes place in connection with the Smeltedigelen Festival in Mo i Rana.

Smeltedigelen provides an important cultural setting for the international gathering, giving participants the opportunity to experience performances by established artists and engage with the local professional music environment.

The cultural programme includes:

Thursday, 15 October

20:00–21:00 – Concert by Ánnásuolo
Location: Kinoteateret

21:30 – Concert by Ketil Bjørnstad
Location: Teaterkaféen

Saturday, 17 October

18:30–19:45 – Concert by Helgeland Symphony Orchestra
Location: Samfunnssalen

These events provide opportunities for cultural exchange, networking, and informal discussions alongside the professional Forum programme.

---

Nordic Cultural Excursion and Closing Concert

Discovering Helgeland – Music and Cultural Exchange in Nesna

The final day of NordSync Forum #5 takes participants on a cultural excursion from Mo i Rana to Nesna.

The journey offers international guests an opportunity to experience the landscape and cultural environment of Helgeland, strengthening the social and cultural dimensions of the gathering.

The excursion concludes with a concert and presentations at Nesna Church, featuring young musicians and representatives of participating music schools and cultural organisations from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

The event highlights the Forum’s commitment to youth participation and cooperation between voluntary cultural communities.

Young performers will have the opportunity to present their musical work, while partner organisations will share insights into their activities and experiences.

The closing concert is organised in cooperation with Nordic Youth Music Initiative – Helgeland 2026.

Date: Sunday, 18 October 2026
Time: 12:00–12:45
Location: Nesna Church, Nesna

---

Participating Organisations and International Partners

NordSync Forum #5 and NordSync Lab #5 are organised in cooperation with cultural institutions, music schools, and voluntary organisations from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Participating organisations and collaborating environments include:

Norway

• NordSync Project / NordSync Productions
• Rana Kulturskole
• Vefsn Kulturskole
• Helgeland Symphony Orchestra
• Rødøy Orkesterforening
• Strykekameratene
• Alstahaug Orkesterforening
• Smeltedigelen Festival

Sweden

• KulturAkademin Storuman
• Lycksele Musiksällskap
• Lycksele Musikskolan

Finland

• Kuhmo Music Institute (Kuhmon musiikkiopisto)

Additional cultural organisations, professional musicians, and educators from the NordSync network will also participate.

---

Practical Information

Dates: 16–18 October 2026
NordSync Lab #5: 14–18 October 2026

Location: Mo i Rana and Nesna, Nordland, Norway

Arrival: 15 October 2026 for Forum participants
Departure: 18 October 2026

Accommodation: Home Hotel Helma, Mo i Rana

Main Forum Venue: Home Hotel Helma – Conference Hall

Workshops and Rehearsals: Rana Kulturskole

Main Concert: Spektrum Meyergården, Mo i Rana

Closing Concert: Nesna Church

Programme and Invitation

The detailed programme and practical information for both NordSync Forum #5 and NordSync Lab #5 are available in the event documents.

Invitation – NordSync Forum #5 & NordSync Lab #5
Download PDF

Preliminary Schedule – NordSync Forum #5 & NordSync Lab #5
Download PDF

For further information, please contact:

NordSync Productions
Email: nordsync.project@hotmail.com
Phone: +47 925 08 815

We look forward to welcoming our partners, colleagues, and new participants to Mo i Rana!

See you in Helgeland!

16–18 October 2026 | Mo i Rana & Nesna, Norway

NordSync Forum #5 brings together musicians, educators, representatives of voluntary cultural organisations, and cultural professionals from Norway, Sweden, and Finland for a three-day programme focused on cross-border cultural cooperation, youth engagement, and the development of strong local cultural communities.

The Forum is part of NordSync: Blå Vegen – Cultural Cooperation 2026–2027, an international initiative aimed at strengthening long-term partnerships between cultural organisations along the Blå Vegen (Blue Road/E12) and the surrounding regions of Nordland, Västerbotten, Norrbotten, and Kainuu.

Building on the results of previous NordSync Forums and collaborative projects, this year’s programme places particular emphasis on cooperation between music and arts schools, voluntary organisations, professional artists, and young people.

---

Theme

Blå Vegen – Cultural Cooperation, Youth and Strong Local Communities

How can cultural organisations, music schools, professional artists, and local communities work together to create more accessible, sustainable, and engaging cultural opportunities for young people?

During 2024–2026, NordSync Project established an extensive network of musicians, educators, cultural institutions, and voluntary organisations across the Nordic region. Several new initiatives and international productions have emerged from these collaborations.

The next step is to move beyond establishing contacts and focus on developing lasting structures for cultural cooperation.

The Forum explores how professional expertise, public cultural education, and voluntary engagement can complement one another, particularly in regions characterised by large geographical distances, smaller communities, and limited access to specialised cultural resources.

A central focus is the development of NordSync Atlas, a new initiative dedicated to youth recruitment, cultural education, international cooperation, and the exploration of innovative approaches to youth participation.

---

Programme

The programme combines professional presentations, practical workshops, cross-border strategy meetings, artistic activities, and live performances.

Highlights include:

• Presentation of NordSync Atlas – a new Nordic initiative for youth engagement and cultural cooperation.
• Practical workshop exploring new educational and recruitment models for music schools and voluntary organisations.
• Cross-border meetings between cultural partners from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
• NordSync Lab #5 – Orchestra Courses Reimagined, a collaborative artistic and educational laboratory.
• Performance of Nordisk Suite by Norwegian composer Bodvar Drotninghaug Moe, featuring professional musicians and young performers.
• Participation in cultural events at the Smeltedigelen Festival.
• Cultural excursion to Nesna, including a closing concert and presentations by Nordic partner organisations.

---

NordSync Atlas – A New Initiative for Nordic Youth

Atlas builds on experiences from previous projects, including KULTURKOMBO, Rainbow Strings, and Nordic Youth Music Initiative.

The initiative focuses on four interconnected areas:

Recruitment and participation – Developing new approaches to attracting children and young people to cultural activities, including those who have previously discontinued their music or arts education.

Educational innovation – Exploring new interdisciplinary models that combine music and artistic development with other activities, practical skills, and creative learning.

Digital cooperation – Investigating how digital platforms and new technologies can improve access to cultural education and international collaboration, particularly in geographically remote communities.

Young Cultural Ambassadors – Developing a mentoring and participation programme in which young people become active representatives of their local cultural communities and contribute to the development of future international projects.

Through NordSync Atlas, we aim to create stronger connections between local cultural environments and develop new opportunities for young people to learn, collaborate, and participate across national borders.

---

Featured Speaker

Stepan Frolov

Violinist, Cultural Producer and Founder of NordSync Project

As the founder and coordinator of NordSync Project, he has been involved in developing partnerships between professional musicians, cultural institutions, music schools, and voluntary organisations across the Nordic region.

His work particularly focuses on creating sustainable models for cooperation between professional and amateur musicians, developing opportunities for young performers, and strengthening cultural connections between communities.

Presentation

NordSync Atlas – Building a Shared Nordic Cultural Space for Young People

This presentation introduces the vision and development of NordSync Atlas, including its main objectives, planned activities, and opportunities for international cooperation.

Special attention will be given to the role of voluntary cultural organisations, music schools, and young people in shaping future cultural initiatives.

Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Time: 10:00–11:00
Location: Conference Hall, Home Hotel Helma, Mo i Rana

---

Workshop

Atlas in Practice – New Models for Cultural Education and Cooperation

How can we make music education and cultural activities more attractive, accessible, and relevant to young people?

This practical workshop brings together educators, musicians, and representatives of cultural organisations from Norway, Sweden, and Finland to explore new approaches to teaching, recruitment, and collaboration.

Participants will exchange experiences from their respective institutions and examine how music schools, professional musicians, and voluntary organisations can develop joint activities.

The workshop will also draw on practical experiences from Nordic Youth Music Initiative – Helgeland 2026 and NordSync Lab #5.

The aim is to identify methods and collaborative models that can be adapted and implemented in different local communities.

Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Time: 11:00–13:00
Location: Conference Hall, Home Hotel Helma, Mo i Rana

---

Cross-Border Strategy Meeting (NO–SE–FI)

From Networks to Long-Term Partnerships

A dedicated meeting bringing together representatives of music schools, voluntary cultural organisations, professional musicians, and cultural institutions from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

The meeting focuses on strengthening cooperation within the Blå Vegen region and developing concrete plans for future joint activities.

Topics include:

• Presentation of ongoing initiatives and activities among partner organisations.
• Cooperation between music schools and voluntary cultural associations.
• Youth recruitment, international exchange, and new educational formats.
• Further development of NordSync Atlas and the Young Cultural Ambassadors initiative.
• Planning of joint projects and cultural activities for 2027–2028.
• Opportunities for cross-border funding and shared project development.

The meeting aims to identify practical opportunities for cooperation and establish the next steps towards sustainable international partnerships.

Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Time: 14:00–17:00
Location: Home Hotel Helma, Mo i Rana

---

NordSync Lab #5

Orchestra Courses – Reimagined

14–18 October 2026 | Mo i Rana, Norway

As part of the Forum programme, participants are invited to experience NordSync Lab #5, a practical artistic and educational laboratory exploring new approaches to traditional orchestra courses.

The Lab brings together professional musicians, music educators, amateur performers, and young musicians from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Through rehearsals, workshops, and collaborative performances, participants investigate how orchestra courses can become broader meeting places for artistic development, education, recruitment, and international cultural exchange.

An important part of the Lab is the collaboration with Nordic Youth Music Initiative – Helgeland 2026, which brings together approximately 120 participants from the three countries.

The project provides a practical example of how music schools, voluntary orchestra associations, and professional musicians can collaborate on larger international productions.

The artistic work culminates in a public performance of Nordisk Suite by composer Bodvar Drotninghaug Moe.

Main Artistic Presentation

Date: Friday, 16 October 2026
Time: 17:00–18:00
Location: Spektrum Meyergården, Mo i Rana

The Lab continues throughout the weekend with professional exchange, workshops, and a closing presentation in Nesna.

---

NordSync Showcase

Nordisk Suite – Nordic Youth Music Initiative

A major highlight of the programme is the performance of Nordisk Suite, composed by Norwegian composer Bodvar Drotninghaug Moe.

The production brings together professional musicians, soloists, and young orchestra participants from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Developed through the collaboration between NordSync Project, regional music schools, and voluntary cultural organisations, the project demonstrates how international artistic cooperation can create meaningful educational opportunities for young musicians.

The performance also serves as the main artistic presentation of NordSync Lab #5 – Orchestra Courses Reimagined.

Date: Friday, 16 October 2026
Time: 17:00–18:00
Location: Spektrum Meyergården, Mo i Rana

---

Cooperation – Smeltedigelen Festival

NordSync Forum #5 takes place in connection with the Smeltedigelen Festival in Mo i Rana.

Smeltedigelen provides an important cultural setting for the international gathering, giving participants the opportunity to experience performances by established artists and engage with the local professional music environment.

The cultural programme includes:

Thursday, 15 October

20:00–21:00 – Concert by Ánnásuolo
Location: Kinoteateret

21:30 – Concert by Ketil Bjørnstad
Location: Teaterkaféen

Saturday, 17 October

18:30–19:45 – Concert by Helgeland Symphony Orchestra
Location: Samfunnssalen

These events provide opportunities for cultural exchange, networking, and informal discussions alongside the professional Forum programme.

---

Nordic Cultural Excursion and Closing Concert

Discovering Helgeland – Music and Cultural Exchange in Nesna

The final day of NordSync Forum #5 takes participants on a cultural excursion from Mo i Rana to Nesna.

The journey offers international guests an opportunity to experience the landscape and cultural environment of Helgeland, strengthening the social and cultural dimensions of the gathering.

The excursion concludes with a concert and presentations at Nesna Church, featuring young musicians and representatives of participating music schools and cultural organisations from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

The event highlights the Forum’s commitment to youth participation and cooperation between voluntary cultural communities.

Young performers will have the opportunity to present their musical work, while partner organisations will share insights into their activities and experiences.

The closing concert is organised in cooperation with Nordic Youth Music Initiative – Helgeland 2026.

Date: Sunday, 18 October 2026
Time: 12:00–12:45
Location: Nesna Church, Nesna

---

Participating Organisations and International Partners

NordSync Forum #5 and NordSync Lab #5 are organised in cooperation with cultural institutions, music schools, and voluntary organisations from Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Participating organisations and collaborating environments include:

Norway

• NordSync Project / NordSync Productions
• Rana Kulturskole
• Vefsn Kulturskole
• Helgeland Symphony Orchestra
• Rødøy Orkesterforening
• Strykekameratene
• Alstahaug Orkesterforening
• Smeltedigelen Festival

Sweden

• KulturAkademin Storuman
• Lycksele Musiksällskap
• Lycksele Musikskolan

Finland

• Kuhmo Music Institute (Kuhmon musiikkiopisto)

Additional cultural organisations, professional musicians, and educators from the NordSync network will also participate.

---

Practical Information

Dates: 16–18 October 2026
NordSync Lab #5: 14–18 October 2026

Location: Mo i Rana and Nesna, Nordland, Norway

Arrival: 15 October 2026 for Forum participants
Departure: 18 October 2026

Accommodation: Home Hotel Helma, Mo i Rana

Main Forum Venue: Home Hotel Helma – Conference Hall

Workshops and Rehearsals: Rana Kulturskole

Main Concert: Spektrum Meyergården, Mo i Rana

Closing Concert: Nesna Church

Programme and Invitation

The detailed programme and practical information for both NordSync Forum #5 and NordSync Lab #5 are available in the event documents.

Invitation – NordSync Forum #5 & NordSync Lab #5
Download PDF

Preliminary Schedule – NordSync Forum #5 & NordSync Lab #5
Download PDF

For further information, please contact:

NordSync Productions
Email: nordsync.project@hotmail.com
Phone: +47 925 08 815

We look forward to welcoming our partners, colleagues, and new participants to Mo i Rana!

See you in Helgeland!

Youth seminar and concert
10 October 2026 | Hoppern ungdomsskole, Jeløy, Moss
Seminar starts at 11:00 | Concert at 15:00
Participation and concert are free

For the third year in a row, NordSync invites young musicians from Østfold to Sammen på scenen – a project where students rehearse, learn and perform side by side with professional musicians.

Over the past three years, Sammen på scenen has developed into an important meeting place for young musicians, professional performers, kulturskoler and voluntary orchestra environments in Østfold. The idea is simple, but central to NordSync’s work: young musicians should not only receive instruction from professionals or listen to them perform – they should become active participants in a professional artistic production.

In 2026, the project takes a new step with Nordisk Suite, a new work by Norwegian composer Bodvar Drotninghaug Moe, commissioned by NordSync Project with support from Det norske komponistfond. The project also marks Moe’s 75th anniversary.

A new Nordic work

Nordisk Suite is written for two characteristic Nordic folk instruments – Hardanger fiddle and nyckelharpa – accompanied by chamber and youth orchestra.

Inspired by Norwegian and Swedish folk music, the work explores ideas of cultural exchange, friendship and cooperation between the Nordic countries. Classical compositional structures meet folk-music traditions, while solo passages, cadenzas and improvisational elements create space for the individual artistic voices of the performers.

The soloists are Duo Nøkkelfele:

Sunniva Herland Monstad – Hardanger fiddle
Hsiang-Yin Hsiao – nyckelharpa

Around them, professional musicians from Østfold Strykekvartett join young musicians from kulturskoler in Moss, Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad, as well as participants from voluntary youth and orchestra environments in the region.

From the classroom to the concert stage

An important strength of Sammen på scenen is the connection between the students’ everyday music education and the larger production.

Members of Østfold Strykekvartett also teach at kulturskoler in Moss and Sarpsborg and already work with many of the participating students through their regular instrumental education. This creates continuity between weekly lessons, local preparation, the joint seminar and the final performance.

Before the seminar, participants prepare their parts locally together with their own teachers. On 10 October, the different groups come together in Moss for an intensive day of rehearsals and artistic work.

During the seminar, the young musicians will work with the professional musicians through:

• section and group rehearsals
• full orchestra rehearsals
• work with ensemble sound, rhythm, phrasing and musical communication
• guidance in professional rehearsal and concert practices
• direct ensemble playing with professional musicians and soloists
• preparation of Nordisk Suite for the public performance

The seminar culminates in a public concert at 15:00, where the young participants perform on the same stage as Østfold Strykekvartett and Duo Nøkkelfele.

Young musicians as real artistic participants

The ambition is that the students should experience the entire artistic process – from the first local preparation of the music to sectional rehearsals, full ensemble work, general rehearsal and public performance.

They work with the same musical material as the professional musicians and become part of the ensemble rather than being presented as a separate student group.

For many participants, this is a rare opportunity to work closely with professional chamber musicians while also participating in the first performances of a newly composed Norwegian work together with established folk-music soloists.

The encounter with Duo Nøkkelfele and Østfold Strykekvartett is intended to provide both concrete musical experience and artistic inspiration: new approaches to ensemble playing, unfamiliar musical traditions and professional role models for further development.

Building connections across Østfold – and across the Nordic region

Sammen på scenen builds on an established cooperation between professional musicians, kulturskoler and voluntary music organisations in Østfold, but the 2026 edition expands the model both geographically and artistically.

Students from several municipalities meet in one ensemble, creating new connections between young musicians who would not necessarily otherwise play together.

At the same time, Nordisk Suite connects the Østfold seminar to a much larger Nordic project. The production brings together Norwegian and Swedish musical traditions and forms part of NordSync’s broader work to create connections between young musicians, professional artists and voluntary cultural environments across the Nordic region.

After the Østfold performances, Nordisk Suite continues to Nordland, where the work becomes the artistic centrepiece of Nordic Youth Music Initiative – Helgeland 2026, bringing together young musicians from Norway, Sweden and Finland.

In this way, the young musicians in Moss become part of something larger than a one-day seminar: a production that travels between regions and creates connections between local music education, professional artistic practice and Nordic cultural cooperation.

Goals for the participants

Through Sammen på scenen – Nordisk Suite, we want young musicians to:

• develop their ensemble and orchestral skills
• experience achievement within an ambitious artistic production
• become familiar with professional rehearsal and concert practices
• meet and play with young musicians from other municipalities
• strengthen motivation for continued instrumental study and ensemble playing
• encounter Nordic folk music and newly composed music through practical participation
• gain experience performing alongside professional musicians and established soloists

Sammen på scenen is therefore not only about preparing a concert. It is about building bridges between the kulturskole, voluntary music organisations and professional cultural life – and giving young musicians the opportunity to experience themselves as genuine artistic collaborators.

---

Concerts connected to Sammen på scenen – Nordisk Suite

The seminar culminates in public performances where the young participants and professional musicians share the stage. Both concerts in Østfold have free entrance.

• Saturday 10 October 2026, 15:00 – Hoppern ungdomsskole, Jeløy, Moss
  Nordisk Suite – Sammen på scenen
  Young musicians perform together with Østfold Strykekvartett and Duo Nøkkelfele.
  Free entrance
  
• Sunday 11 October 2026, 14:00 – Værk Scene, Gamlebyen, Fredrikstad
  Nordisk Suite – Fredrikstad
  A professional chamber-music presentation of Nordisk Suite with Østfold Strykekvartett and Duo Nøkkelfele.
  Free entrance
  

After the Østfold programme, Nordisk Suite continues north as part of Nordic Youth Music Initiative – Helgeland 2026, where the work will be performed with a large Nordic ensemble of young and professional musicians in Mo i Rana.

---

A strong local partnership

Østfold Musikkforening has become a strong and reliable local partner for NordSync in Østfold. Through our cooperation, we have been able to build contacts between musicians, kulturskoler, youth ensembles and other local cultural environments, and to turn ambitious project ideas into practical activities for children and young people.

Sammen på scenen is one of the clearest results of this cooperation. Together, we have developed the seminar into a recurring annual event where young musicians are given the opportunity to meet, rehearse and perform with professional artists. The continuity of the partnership makes it possible to build on previous experience each year, strengthen the local network and create increasingly ambitious opportunities for young musicians in Østfold.

This year’s Nordisk Suite project is another important step in that shared work.

In April 2026, NordSync Project gathered musicians, educators, cultural organisers and representatives of cultural organisations from Norway, Sweden and Finland for NordSync Forum #4 and NordSync Lab #4 in Umeå.

The meeting took place on 23–26 April, with the main Forum and Lab programme on 24–25 April, and was organised in connection with Umeå Musikbranschdagar by ÅC Live. The collaboration gave NordSync an opportunity not only to bring together its own network, but also to connect it directly with a broader ecosystem of artists, organisers, voluntary organisations and cultural-sector actors in northern Sweden.

For NordSync, this was particularly important. One of the central developments in our work during the 2025–2026 season has been the expansion from a network primarily connecting professional performing artists towards closer cooperation with voluntary and non-profit cultural organisations, youth environments and amateur ensembles. This direction had already become an explicit part of NordSync’s annual programme, with the aim of creating stronger connections between professional artistic production, local cultural participation and competence development.

The Umeå meeting gave us an opportunity to test this approach in practice.

The Nordic region as a shared cultural space

The theme of NordSync Forum #4 was:

The Nordic Region as a Shared Cultural Space – developing cross-border and interdisciplinary collaboration along the Blå Vegen.

The starting point was the geographical and cultural axis stretching from Northern Norway through Västerbotten and further east towards Finland. We used the Blå Vegen not simply as a road on the map, but as a practical framework for discussing mobility, artistic cooperation and long-term partnerships between cultural environments in Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The discussion was connected to a larger Nordic ambition: how cultural cooperation can contribute to the Nordic region becoming more integrated and sustainable towards 2030. The Forum therefore focused on questions of mobility, knowledge exchange, regional cooperation and new models for developing projects across borders.

Participants represented cultural environments connected to places including Rødøy, Mo i Rana, Umeå, Lycksele, Storuman, Luleå, Kuhmo and Oulu. This geographical spread was important in itself. It allowed us to compare very different local realities while also identifying many shared challenges: long distances, recruitment, access to professional expertise, financing, mobility between regions and the need for sustainable partnerships that can continue beyond individual projects.

From mapping needs to planning projects

Friday began with introductions and presentations of the participating organisations and ongoing initiatives.

The main cross-border strategy meeting was dedicated to four areas: mapping existing activities and regional needs, discussing mobility and collaboration models, examining possible funding structures, and planning joint activities for the period 2026–2028.

What made the meeting particularly valuable was that it did not remain at the level of general discussion.

Participants were able to compare concrete projects, organisational structures and local resources. The conversations resulted in a number of practical ideas and collaborations that were subsequently developed further during summer 2026 and are continuing into the 2026–2027 season.

For NordSync, this confirmed an important principle in our work: international cooperation becomes most meaningful when it leads to real activity in local communities.

That can mean an artistic production, a youth project, an exchange between teachers, a new partnership between voluntary organisations or a meeting where institutions that previously worked separately discover that they are facing the same problems and can solve some of them together.

Connecting NordSync with a wider cultural network

A particularly important element of the Umeå Forum was the cooperation with ÅC Live and Umeå Musikbranschdagar.

Rather than organising the entire programme as an isolated NordSync event, we deliberately connected parts of our Forum to an already established meeting place for the wider music sector in northern Sweden.

This was an efficient way of expanding our network beyond our traditional field of professional performers.

On Friday afternoon, NordSync participants joined Musikpolitisk eftermiddag, with presentations and discussions concerning cultural policy and the development of the music sector in Västerbotten and other northern regions. The programme created direct dialogue between artists, organisers and representatives of the public sector.

The day continued with industry networking, showcase concerts and informal meetings at Folkets Hus.

For NordSync, these informal parts of the programme were just as valuable as the formal meetings. They created new contacts with organisers, independent cultural actors and organisations working with youth and locally based cultural activity.

By connecting with an existing regional network instead of attempting to build every connection independently, we found a practical model for reaching organisations and cultural environments that are highly relevant to NordSync’s future work.

This experience has become an important reference point for how we want to work in the coming seasons.

Artistic development: 50 years of ideas and practice

Saturday shifted the focus from strategy and networking to artistic practice.

Composer Bodvar Drotninghaug Moe opened the seminar programme with the lecture Att skriva musik över genrer – 50 years of ideas, craft and artistic choices.

The presentation explored artistic work across classical, contemporary and folk traditions, how musical ideas emerge and develop, and how a composer’s working methods change through long-term artistic practice. It was followed by the practical workshop From idea to music – composition and creative practice, where participants explored tools for developing musical material and the balance between intuition and compositional craft. 

This combination of reflection and practical work is central to the NordSync format.

Our Forums are not intended only as conferences, and our Labs are not conventional masterclasses. The idea is to connect discussion directly with artistic experimentation and production.

NordSync Lab #4: Nordisk Suite

The centrepiece of NordSync Lab #4 was the first practical work with Nordisk Suite, a new composition by Bodvar Drotninghaug Moe.

The work represents many of the artistic ideas behind NordSync itself.

It brings together different musical traditions and approaches: Norwegian and Swedish folk-music influences, two characteristic Nordic folk instruments – hardingfele and nyckelharpa – and the sound world and structure of a classical chamber ensemble.

The Lab was led by Bodvar Drotninghaug Moe together with Sunniva Herland Monstad, Norwegian Hardanger fiddle player, who travelled to Umeå from Vienna to participate in the project.

The afternoon session became the first live reading of the newly composed material. Classical string players and folk musicians worked together with the score, experimenting with ensemble balance, interpretation, improvisation and a shared musical language. The original programme described the Lab as practical ensemble work with newly composed material and as an exploration of artistic interaction between classical and folk traditions. 

That description became very concrete in the room.

The process was interactive and exploratory, and the musicians’ feedback became part of the further artistic development of the work. Sunniva Herland Monstad’s contribution was particularly important in shaping the relationship between the written material and the performance traditions connected to the Hardanger fiddle.

For us, this is precisely what a NordSync Lab should be: not simply rehearsal of a finished product, but a space where artistic material can develop through direct interaction between composers, performers and different traditions.

Bringing NordSync onto the showcase stage

Later that evening, the Lab moved from the rehearsal room to the stage at Folkets Hus.

The NordSync Showcase presented the NordSync Project, the plans for continued cooperation along the Blå Vegen, and Nordisk Suite as a practical example of how our artistic and organisational ideas can meet in one project. The programme included a live work-in-progress excerpt before the evening continued with the wider Umeå Musikbranschdagar showcase programme. 

The context was unusual for NordSync.

Much of the surrounding showcase programme was oriented towards pop, rock and other contemporary music-industry formats. Presenting a new work combining Hardanger fiddle, Nordic folk traditions and classical chamber music therefore created an interesting contrast.

At the same time, the showcase confirmed something that lies at the heart of NordSync itself: this is exactly where we want to be — in spaces where different musical genres, traditions and professional environments meet.

NordSync was created around the idea that artistic development often happens at the intersection between established fields. Presenting Nordisk Suite in a programme that also included pop, rock and other contemporary expressions therefore felt entirely natural. The contrast did not place NordSync outside its usual context; rather, it demonstrated the value of bringing classical, folk and contemporary music into the same professional meeting place.

The showcase gave us an opportunity to present NordSync as a platform where genres can meet, influence one another and open new possibilities for collaboration. It also created further informal conversations and new contacts during the evening, strengthening precisely the kind of cross-genre exchange that the project is built to encourage.

What did the Umeå Forum achieve?

The strongest result of NordSync Forum #4 was not one individual seminar, concert or meeting. It was the combination of all these elements.

The Forum strengthened our existing cooperation between Norway, Sweden and Finland, while adding new contacts in Västerbotten, Norrbotten and Finland. It gave us a better understanding of the cultural infrastructure along the Blå Vegen and helped identify organisations, projects and individuals with whom future cooperation can be developed.

Equally important, it expanded the type of organisations represented in the NordSync network.

Our work has traditionally centred on professional performing artists and interdisciplinary artistic production. In Umeå, we moved further towards cooperation with voluntary cultural environments, youth organisations, local associations and organisers working outside purely professional structures.

That development is important for several reasons.

Voluntary organisations already possess strong local networks, knowledge of their communities and direct contact with young people and amateur participants. Professional artists, on the other hand, bring artistic competence, production experience and access to wider professional networks.

The Umeå Forum showed that these resources can complement each other.

For NordSync, this is increasingly becoming one of the most promising models for future work: combining professional artistic quality with local participation and long-term capacity building.

From meeting to lasting regional cooperation

An important goal of NordSync has always been that our activities should have effects beyond the individual event.

For this reason, the Forum placed considerable emphasis on developing partnerships and projects that could continue in the following seasons. Sunday’s informal wrap-up conversations were therefore not simply the end of the programme, but an opportunity to confirm intentions, continue discussions and establish next steps.

Several of the ideas developed in Umeå have since moved into concrete planning or implementation for 2026–2027.

The meeting also contributed directly to NordSync’s broader development towards more systematic work with young people, music education and voluntary cultural organisations.

This is closely connected to what we mean when we speak about cultural synchronisation.

The goal is not to make cultural life in Norway, Sweden and Finland identical. It is to make it easier for organisations, artists and young people across the region to know about each other, meet, share competence, initiate projects together and use the cultural resources that already exist on both sides of national borders.

In northern regions, where geographical distances are large and individual cultural environments can be relatively small, this type of horizontal cooperation can make a significant difference.

It strengthens access to competence, creates new opportunities for participation and helps build more resilient cultural communities.

Looking forward

NordSync Forum #4 and NordSync Lab #4 confirmed that the direction we began developing during the 2025–2026 season has substantial potential.

Cross-border cooperation between professional artists remains at the core of NordSync. But our experience in Umeå showed that the network can become considerably stronger when that professional cooperation is connected to youth, voluntary organisations, educators and locally rooted cultural environments.

This approach also corresponds closely with NordSync’s wider objectives for cultural development in the north: knowledge exchange, participation, competence development, sustainable partnerships and people-to-people cooperation across borders. These were central objectives of the 2025–2026 programme supported through the Barents cooperation framework.

The Umeå Forum gave us new contacts, new competence and new working models.

More importantly, it transformed several discussions about future Nordic cooperation into practical relationships and concrete plans.

For NordSync, that is the most important measure of a successful Forum: not only what happens during the meeting, but what becomes possible afterwards.

Cultural Diplomacy, Interdisciplinary Creation & Young Artists

 9 June 2026
10:00 AM (Oslo time)

NordSync Online Seminar #14 brings together two inspiring cultural leaders working in different fields of the arts: one internationally acclaimed artist exploring the intersections of music, technology, visual arts, and social impact, and one dedicated to creating pathways for young people into professional artistic life.

---

Yury Revich (Austria)

Stradivari Violinist • Composer • Interdisciplinary Creator

Beyond his work as a soloist, Revich is known for creating ambitious interdisciplinary projects that combine music, visual arts, film, technology, and social engagement. He has founded several international artistic initiatives and serves as an Honorary Representative for UNICEF Austria.

Learn more about Yury and his work here:

Home

Topic:
“Interdisciplinary Creation and Cultural Diplomacy”

Yury will share insights from his work as a performer, composer, and curator, discussing how artistic collaboration across disciplines can create new forms of expression, build international connections, and contribute to cultural diplomacy.

---

Carolina Johansson (Sweden)

Head Producer for Children and Youth, Länsmusiken i Kalmar län

For more than thirteen years, Carolina has worked with music and performing arts projects aimed at children and young people. She has international experience from cultural work in Rome and currently develops large-scale productions and summer opera projects where young performers are introduced to the world of professional classical performing arts.

Topic:
“Entering Professional Music Life: Supporting Young Artists on Stage and Beyond”

Carolina will discuss how young musicians can be introduced to professional artistic environments and how cultural institutions can create meaningful pathways from education to artistic careers.

---

🌍 Building the Future of Culture

How do we help young artists take their first professional steps? How can interdisciplinary projects connect people across borders and cultures?

Join us for an engaging conversation about artistic development, cultural leadership, cultural diplomacy, and the future of the performing arts.

📍 Live on NordSync’s YouTube channel
💬 Open discussion after the presentations
🎟️ Free and open to all

12 May 2026
10:00 AM (Oslo time)

NordSync Online Seminar #13 brings together two perspectives rooted in the North — exploring how artists and cultural organisations can create sustainable practices, meaningful projects, and strong artistic identities outside major urban centres.

Carolina Miskovsky (Sweden)

Artist, Musician & Cultural Project Developer

---

Listen to Carolina’s music:

---

In addition to her work as a performing artist, Carolina has written music for Swedish national television (SVT), worked as a TV and radio host, and is currently active as a journalist at SVT.

Her artistic work today is closely connected to nature, the northern landscape, and life outside urban centres. She performs together with nyckelharpa player and riksspelman Daniel Pettersson, creating music that blends folk, pop, singer-songwriter traditions, and country.

Since 2026, Carolina has also been working on the international EU cultural project ICH EDU North, focusing on safeguarding and developing living cultural heritage in the Aurora region.

Topic:
Carolina will present her work within ICH EDU North and reflect on how to create sustainable conditions for musicians and artists to live and work in the North. How can we support artistic life outside big cities — and why is it important?

---

Evgeny Goman (Norway)

Curator & Producer, Pikene på Broen

For over 30 years, Pikene på Broen has developed what they describe as “border-crossing exercises” — interdisciplinary projects that offer new perspectives on the North and address socially and politically relevant themes. Their work includes the international festival Barents Spektakel, the exhibition space Terminal B, and an artist-in-residence program that brings international artists to the region.

Topic:
Evgeny will present Pikene på Broen — its structure, methods, and artistic vision — and share insights into building and sustaining an idealistic cultural organisation in a small northern town.

---

A shared perspective

This seminar highlights artistic life in the North — from individual artistic practice to long-term institutional work — and asks how culture can grow, remain relevant, and create impact in geographically remote regions.

Join us for a conversation about music, identity, collaboration, and cultural sustainability.

Live on NordSync’s YouTube channel
Open discussion after the talks
Free and open to all

2 May 2026
10:00 AM (Oslo time)

NordSync Online Seminar #12 brings together two highly distinctive perspectives on perception, performance, and the senses — from the physical realities of music-making to taste as an artistic and cultural experience.

This seminar explores how art is not only something we hear or see, but something we experience through the entire body.

---

🎻 Elisabeth Turmo (Norway)

Violinist, Physiotherapist & Performance Specialist

She has received numerous distinctions, including 2nd Prize at the Grand Virtuoso International Competition and 1st Prize at the Norwegian Youth Music Championship, and has performed with orchestras such as the Arctic Philharmonic, Oslo Chamber Orchestra, Barratt Due Symphony Orchestra, and several international festival orchestras.

Alongside her performance career, Elisabeth is also a trained physiotherapist with extensive expertise in body use for musicians. She combines her musical and medical knowledge through teaching, with experience in methods such as Timani and Alexander Technique.

Topic:
Musicmaking and Physiotherapy – how physical awareness, body use, and movement influence artistic freedom, sound, and long-term sustainability for musicians.

---

🍷 Jan Terje Fossland (Norway)

Sommelier, Chef & Sensory Curator

Topic:
Wine, Climate Change & Sensory Culture
Jan Terje will explore how global warming is reshaping wine production and taste, while also reflecting on taste as one of our core senses — and how wine culture can be understood as an art form that communicates through sensory experience, much like music or visual art.

---

🌍 A seminar about art beyond traditional boundaries

From violin technique and physical sustainability to wine, climate, and multisensory perception, Online Seminar #12 continues NordSync’s commitment to exploring interdisciplinary ideas that challenge and expand artistic thinking.

Join us live for a conversation about body, taste, sound, and how we experience the world through art.

NordSync Forum #4 brings together musicians, educators, and cultural actors from Norway, Sweden, and Finland for a programme focused on cross-border collaboration, artistic development, and interdisciplinary practice.

Taking place in Umeå on 23–26 April 2026, the Forum is organised in cooperation with Umeå Musikbranschdagar by ÅC Live, combining seminars, workshops, networking, and live showcases.

A central part of the programme is a cross-border strategy meeting (NO–SE–FI), exploring future collaboration along the Blå Vegen.

Read more about the programme and participants HERE

As part of NordSync Forum #4, we invite musicians to take part in NordSync Lab #4, a collaborative workshop exploring the meeting point between classical and folk traditions.

Led by composer Bodvar Drotninghaug Moe and violinist/hardingfele player Sunniva Herland Monstad, the Lab focuses on Nordisk Suite – a new work where musicians from different traditions come together in a shared artistic process.

The Lab will culminate in a public showcase at Folkets Hus in Umeå on 25 April, presenting the results of this cross-genre collaboration.

Read more about NordSync Lab #4 and how to participate HERE