Nordic Music Days 2024 makes a historic and successful debut in Glasgow

Nordic Music Days, one of the world’s oldest festivals of contemporary classical music and sound, took place in Scotland for the first time in its 136-year history. This esteemed music event presented contemporary music from Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Scotland.

Sweden was represented by the following composers and sound artists Girilal Baars, Britta Byström, Malin Bång, Saga Fagerström, Rosali Grankull, Krister Hansén, Jenny Hettne, Anders Hillborg, Nino Håkansson, Madeleine Isaksson, Arvid Kraft, Håkan Lidbo, Evelin Lindberg, Alexandra Nilsson, Alessandro Perini, and Marcus Wrangö.

Martin Jonsson Tibblin, chair of the Council of Nordic Composers and the Swedish Society of Composers, commented: “Nordic Music Days has been an unmissable event for over a century. It’s a chance for composers from across the region to gather together, hear each other’s music, discuss trends and ideas, and to share and develop cultural and artistic experiences. There’s a strong affinity to Scottish music and culture in the Nordics, so the Council of Nordic Composers is looking forward to seeing the opportunities that open up for composers, performers, organisations, and audiences as a result of this exciting new partnership, which I believe will last long after the festival.”

Opening on 30 October and running until 3 November, the festival unfolded across the city, infusing public and cultural spaces with innovation and curiosity. A rich array of concerts, sound installations, talks, film screenings, and interactive events celebrated the musical and cultural connections between these northern countries.

Nordic Music Days was an initiative of the Nordiska Komponistrådet/NKR (The Council of Nordic Composers) in collaboration with the lead partner in Scotland, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Alistair Mackie, CEO of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, stated: “The truly remarkable thing about this project, supported here in Scotland for this special edition by Creative Scotland, was the number of partner organisations working together, pooling resources, and facilitating each other’s performances to share a common artistic goal and conversation.”

STIM – Swedish Performing Rights Society’s delegation included Mansoor Hosseini, Tove Kättström, Tebogo Monnakgotla, and Olle Sundström. Several other Swedish composers were present, including Johan Blixt, Sten-Olof Hellström, Linnea Landström, and Ann Rosén.

More information about the program and all concerts can be found at Nordic Music Days.