Photo credit: Þórhildur Magnúsdóttir (Eygló Gísla), S. Gerup (Hector Schram)

Dark Music Days, Klang Festival, Iceland Music, and Art Music Denmark are delighted to announce that Þórhildur Magnúsdóttir and S. Gerup have been selected for the initiative 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.

The two artists will collaborate on S. Gerup’s work How to Ruin Someone’s Career as a Violist, which will be premiered by Þórhildur Magnúsdóttir at Dark Music Days and Klang Festival in 2026.

Discussing the piece, S. Gerup states:

“As a composer, I have set out to work with aect, 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 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. 

We extend our warmest congratulations to S. Gerup and Þórhildur Magnúsdóttir and look forward to hearing the piece.