Contact NordAccordion:
Ida Løvli Hidle is the director of the NordAccordion festival since it’s beginning in 2018. She is a premiered accordionist. Amongst her many prizes is the 1st prize from the ”International Competition for Accordion Soloists” in Belgium, 2012. She has given solo concerts all over the world from China to Canada, France, Russia and Germany, and collaborated with composers such as Sofia Gubaidulina with the new edition on her solo work “Et Expecto”. Her almost unlimited repertoire spans from contemporary- to folk music through tango, jazz and classical music. She is a founding member of the jazz orchestra “Skadedyr” and has worked as Kapellmeister on tour with Malmø Opera.
“For me NordAccordion is: fellowship, commitment, unity, joy and inspiration across borders, ages and genres. When we started up in 2018 our goal was to make an inspiring summer course for youg accoridonists around the world. A summer course with master classes and workshops at highest international standard. Pretty soon we understood that this was not enough. When we gather this many international artist, and extremely talented students, of course we had to make a festival. A festival with great accordionist playing music in all kinds of genres and styles with the beautiful surroundings of Voss as our stage.”
Geir Draugsvoll er kunstnerisk leiar av Nordaccordion, og ein av initiativtakarane til festivalen. Som akkordeonist har han spelt over heile verda, og er velkjent for eit innovativt og variert repertoar. Ikkje minst har konsertane hans som solist med orkester sett spor etter seg, og han har blant anna spelt som solist med London Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica, Berkeley Symphony og mange andre verdskjende orkester. Utover å vere musikar, så er Geir professor på det Kongelige Danske Musikkonservatorium, der han i 2020/2021 feirar 25-års jubileum som lærar.
"Nordaccordion er tenkt som ein festival for akkordeonistar frå heile verda, med fokus på at den yngre norske generasjonen får eit sosialt samlingspunkt, og å gjere det mogeleg for dei å få eit internasjonalt perspektiv. Dette får me ved at det kjem unge og studentar frå heile verda, og ved at me legg til rette for at dei beste akkordeonistane og professorane har lyst til å vitje Voss. Dei fyrste festivalene har vore kjempeskøy å vere med på, både for publikum, arrangørar og studenter! No fortset me, og har veldig mange godbitar å servere igjen i 2021!"
Kristina Farstad Bjørdal has her education from The Norwegian Academy of Music, and the Royal Danish Academy of Music as an classical accordionist. She works as a freelance musician, pedagog and journalist. Kristina is passionate about recruiting more accordionists, and getting the instrument out to a wide audience. Working with NordAccordion she will make sure that festival gets positive effects also in a larger context, and lead to musical and pedagogical collaboration.
"I am incredibly grateful and proud to be allowed to contribute to such an important festival as NordAccordeon. This is an important festival for our instrument and accordion performance, both nationally and internationally. The unique opportunity young performers have to have masterclass with some of the world´s best on our instrument, is absolutely fantastic. Absolutely unique!"
