Dark Music Days, Klang Festival, Iceland Music and Art Music Denmark are delighted to announce a new collaboration with composer S. Gerup and violist Þórhildur Magnúsdóttir. Gerup and Magnúsdóttir will collaborate on an alternative concert length and site specific piece to be premiered at Dark Music Days and Klang Festival in 2026.

The new piece bears the working title How to Ruin Someone’s Career as a Violist. About her piece, Gerup tells: “As a composer, I have set out to work with affect, grief, anger and illness, and the lack of ability for musical performance that these conditions bring. Through How to Ruin Someone’s Career as a Violist the idea is to musically express different forms of pain — inspired by the philosopher Hannah Arendt: “To exist, some realities must be kept hidden, while others, on the contrary, must be made public””

Gerup’s piece How to Ruin Someone’s Career as a Violist was selected through an open call for Þórhildur Magnúsdóttir in March 2025. The selection jury consisted of Þórhildur Magnúsdóttir and festival directors from the involved festivals.

About Northern Connection
Northern Connection is a new and innovative project that connects Nordic countries and Scotland by establishing and strengthening liaisons between composers, ensembles and festivals in contemporary music.

Northern Connection started in 2023 with the main partner countries Finland, Norway, and Scotland. Since then, Iceland and Denmark have also joined the project. Northern Connection was initiated by Music Finland and is led by Nordic Music Export Offices.

Read more about Northern Connection here.