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 is artistic director of Nordaccordion, and one of the initiators of the festival. As an accordionist, he has played all over the world, and is well known for an innovative and varied repertoire. Not least his concerts as a soloist with orchestra have left their mark, and he has played as a soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica, Berkeley Symphony and many other world-renowned orchestras. In addition to being a musician, Geir is a professor at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music, where he celebrated his 25th anniversary as a teacher in 2020/2021.
"Nordaccordion is conceived as a festival for accordionists from all over the world, with a focus on giving the younger Norwegian generation a social gathering point, and making it possible for them to gain an international perspective. This is achieved by the fact that young people and students come from the whole world, and by making it possible for the best accordionists and professors to want to visit Voss. The first festivals have been great fun to be part of, both for the audience, organizers and students! "
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!"
