All YoungReportes projects are customsized, both to the according festival and participants. There is very often a mix of German- or English-speaking participants, everybody is invited to write in the language they feel more comfortable in. From Iceland to South Africa, from Hannover to Davos. Please find a selection of recent workshops here:
Dark Music Days Reykjavík – One of Iceland’s oldest music festivals, was launched by the Society of Icelandic Composers in 1980.
Nordic Music Days – Each year the national societies of composers organize the festival in turn on behalf of the Council of Nordic Composers.
Klassik für alle – a Music Podcast Workshop with people who are mentally ill, at risk of addiction or in other difficult life situations
ECLATReporter – at ECLAT Festival of new Music in Stuttgart
UltraschallReporter – at Ultraschall Festival of new Music in Berlin
YECReporters – at Young Euro Classic international Youth Orchestra Festival in Berlin
Karajan Music Tech – Journalistic exploration amongst explorerers at Karajan Music Tech Conference and Cultural Lab in Salzburg
JJVReporters – at Joseph Joachim Violin Competition in Hannover
DAVOS FESTIVAL Reporters – Teenagers from Davos meet young artists
YoungReporters writers‘ hub at Gröndalshús
YoungReporters at Dark Music Days, 17 JahreHow pleasant to have such a prestigous writers‘ hub during Dark Music Days 2023.
Dragged into a magical world
Lilja Sól Helgadóttir, 17 JahreEntering Harpa, shining in the pouring rain, gives one a warm and happy feeling. Although Reykjavík’s concerthall is on every guide’s list, coming here does not take you into another tourist trap, but prepares you for the real magic of an intense music experience.
Music in the Dark
Inga Margrét Bragadóttir, 17 JahreJanuary is not an enjoyable month in Iceland. But amid the cold and windy days, a festival is held – a music festival.
Growing downwards
Solvéig Gabriela , 15 JahreBára describes SILVA to be built on the idea of a downward growing forest, when I ask her after the concert. She is intrigued at the thought of life that usually reaches and stretches towards light and air, just the other way around.
A Multicultural Sense of Wonder
Sóley Anna Jónsdóttir, 19 JahreThere’s something in the air. The music floats around, one can never quite place a finger on it but everyone can feel it from deep within.
What you think of next
Lára Ruth Clausen, 19 JahreMusic that has no boundaries, it simply is what we want, when we want it.
Composing personality
Hugi Garðarsson, 25 JahreHarpa is hosting many of the Dark Music Days concerts. One program is called „Flekarnir“, tectonic plates in English, and includes pieces from various Icelandic composers.
A Modern Homage to the Past
Alvilda Eyvör Elmarsdóttir, 18 JahreI am admittedly not the biggest fan of modern day classical music and as we are walking into the hall of Eldborg, I feel a tad nervous about what is to come.
Capriccio
Snædís Birna Brynjarsdóttir, 16 JahreCapriccio is a beautiful work done by Áskel Másson, it’s magical the entire time and makes you feel more alive.
Elf king in ancient Greece
Lilja Sól Helgadóttir, 17 JahreMeeting composer Úlfur Hansson, and getting to listen to his emotinful piece called Stoicheia was quite an experience.
Wavy music in Iceland
Daníel Kári Jónsson, 20 JahreKjartan himself describes his piece as a colourful wavy journey and I think he executed it very well. I could imagine the sea glimmering in the sun. Truly a night to remember in Harpa.
“I felt like I was in an airplane”
Amelia April Steel, 18 JahreQuite the impressive concert took place in Harpan, consisting of pieces by Kjartan Ólafsson, Haukur Tómasson, Ingibjörg Ýr Skarphéðinsdóttir, Gunnar Andreas Kristinsson and Áskell Másson. Ingibjörg’s work really stood out to me!
Engines in the Head
Lúkas Þorlákur Jones, 19 JahreA moving piece that fully deserves its praise and gives an intimate and personal perspective on a traumatic part of someone’s life.
Copper world
Andreas Guðmundsson, 22 Jahre“Capriccio” by Áskell Másson starts very energetically and quickly, the small Darabuka drum, played by the composer himself, starts establishing an interesting rhythm that continues throughout most of the piece.
NMD Impact
Daniela Amado, 28 JahreI walk wide-eyed into Harpa, the steel honeycomb prism that anyone in Reykjavik recognizes as the most prestigious venue in Iceland. Coming from a Latin American country, everything from the design to the inner workings of a first class arts institution fascinates me.
Overall happiness
Lilja Sól Helgadóttir, 17 JahreSome of the pieces were just so beautiful! Harpist Katie Buckley and Frank Aarnink, the percussionist who plays that „stuss“, form the Duo Harpverk – were playing amazing throughout the concert.
Eternally
Fannar Árni Ágústsson, 16 JahreHáttatal by Guðmundur managed to give me a glimpse of a world of music that, until now, has been unknown to me and for that, I will be eternally grateful.
Viðtal við Ernu Völu
Hugi Garðarsson, 24 JahreLast Wednesday I went to a Nordic Music Days concert starring Siggi String Quartet. They had two guest performers in Fabian Svensson’s „Five Obsessive Movements“, playing a melodica and a toy piano. I had a little chat with the pianist, Erna Vala Arnardóttir.
Eating pigs in front of pigs
Styrmir Palsson, 19 JahreHave you ever eaten pork while standing besides a pig? Have you ever talked about slaughtering pigs in front of pigs? No? Composer Mathias Monrad Møller was letting people try that at the Reykjavík zoo, it was strange but very, very interesting.
Grisaille
Lilja Sól Helgasdóttir, 17 JahreDuring the world premiere of Gunnar Karel Másson’s piece in Harpa, I wrote this poem.