Norwegian Viola Festival 2026
Two Weeks of Viola, Inspiration and Connection Across Norway
For two weeks in May, Norway became a meeting place for violists from around the world. The Norwegian Viola Festival 2026, founded and directed by Povilas Syrrist-Gelgota, filled Asker and its surrounding regions with the warm sound of the viola through concerts, masterclasses, workshops, lectures, outreach projects, and musical encounters.
From 1–14 May, the festival welcomed professional musicians, students, young talents, teachers, and amateur violists, creating a true celebration of the instrument and the international viola community.
With more than 50 events in 22 different venues, from concert halls and churches to schools, cafés, galleries, kindergartens, and nursing homes, the festival showed that the viola belongseverywhere. More than 300 participants from ten countries joined the activities, while over 4000 people experienced the festival live. Online, the festival reached an even wider audience, with more than one million views through social media.
Bringing the Viola Community Together
At the heart of the festival was the idea of connection: connecting generations, countries, musical traditions, and people with a shared love for the viola.
The festival welcomed internationally respected artists and pedagogues including Lars AndersTomter, Eivind Ringstad, Michael Grolid, Ida Klokk-Bryhn, Françoise Gnéri, Karin Dolman, Catherine Bullock, and many other musicians from Norway and abroad.
A special highlight was the concert Viola in My Heart on 2 May in Oslo, where 30 professional violists came together to form a large viola orchestra. The performance created a unique moment of unity and demonstrated the extraordinary richness and depth of the viola sound.
Exploring New Ways to Share Music
Throughout the festival, audiences experienced the viola in many different forms: as a solo instrument, in chamber music, in large ensembles, and in creative collaborations beyond traditional classical concerts.
Programs combined music with poetry, silent film, storytelling, improvisation, jazz, and folk traditions. One memorable example was Lithuanian Tones at Filtvet Lighthouse, where music and storytelling came together in the unique atmosphere of the Norwegian coastline.
These projects reflected the festival’s mission: not only to celebrate the viola, but also to discover new ways of reaching audiences and creating meaningful musical experiences.
Learning, Sharing and Inspiring
Education played a central role throughout the festival. Students and participants worked with international artists through masterclasses, individual lessons, ensemble coaching, workshops, and seminars. Topics went beyond instrumental technique and included subjects such as effective practice, stage communication, dealing with performance pressure, audition preparation, and the relationship between music, personal development, and health. A dedicated amateur viola day created a bridge between professional and amateur musicians, ending with a shared performance together with members of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and a guest solo violist from the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
The Viola in the Community
One of the most inspiring aspects of the Norwegian Viola Festival was its strong connection withthe local community. Through school concerts, kindergarten visits, workshops, and performances for elderly residents and children with disabilities, the festival brought music to people who might not normally enter a concert hall.
By bringing the viola into everyday spaces, the festival showed the power of music to connect people across generations and backgrounds.
The cultural impact of the festival was recognized during Norway’s Constitution Day celebrations on 17 May, when the Mayor of Asker publicly thanked the Norwegian Viola Festival for its contribution to the region’s cultural life.
The International Viola Society congratulates Povilas Syrrist-Gelgota and the entire festival team for creating such an inspiring and ambitious celebration of the viola.
The Norwegian Viola Festival 2026 showed what can happen when artistic excellence, education, community, and friendship come together. A true example of the worldwide viola family.
More information: www.norwegianviolafestival.com
