Viola-Festival

The new year begins with a musical kick-off at the University of the Arts Bremen: from 9 January to 1 February 2026, the viola will take centre stage and, thanks to Sara Kim, professor of viola and chamber music, will have its own festival in Bremen for the first time. Under the title ‘Viola. Finally.’, the HfK Bremen invites you to concerts, workshops, master classes, audition training, discussions and after-show parties. Outstanding guests such as Borsch4Breakfast, Garth Knox, Prof. Nils Mönkemeyer, Sander Stuart, Ionel Ungureanu together with Sandro Nebieridze (pianist and composer) and the Vision String Quartet will be performing.

Admission is free on all four weekends. 
The workshops and master classes are also open to the public.

Friday, 9 January 2026 | 6 p.m. | Gallery, Dechanatstraße
Voice of the Viola – Inaugural concert with Prof. Sara Kim 
Works for solo viola, including pieces by G. Ligeti, I. Stravinsky, P. Hindemith 

Saturday, 10 January 2026 | 8 p.m. | Concert Hall, Dechanatstraße
The Viola as Prima Donna 
The Final Concert of the Master Class with Prof. Nils Mönkemeyer 

Saturday, 17 January 2026 | 7 p.m. | Concert Hall, Dechanatstraße
Make It Your Own
Conert with Ionel Ungureanu, Sandro Nebieridze (pianist, composer) and students of the HfK Bremen. 

Saturday, 24 January 2026 | 8 p.m. | Gallery , Dechanatstraße
Innovative Thinking
Concert Borsch4Breakfast

Sunday, 25.1.2026 | 5 p.m. | Concert Hall, Dechanatstr.
Interview: Between Valley and Mountains
Interview and discussion with Sander Stuart

Sunday, 25 January 2026 | 7 p.m. | Concert Hall, Dechanatstraße
Between Valley and Mountains
Concert Vision String Quartet

Sunday, 1 February 2026 | 4 p.m. | Gallery, Dechanatstraße
Children's Concert – ‘Viola Astronauts Wanted!’
A participatory concert for young and old (ages 4 and up)
With plenty of humour, sound experiments and music from Viola Spaces, children will discover the viola as an instrument of adventure.

Sunday, 1 February 2026 | 6 p.m. | Concert Hall, Dechanatstraße
The Contemporary
Master Class Final Concert. Garth Knox plays his own works with students from the HfK Bremen

Saturday, 10 January 2026 | 12:00–17:00 | Concert Hall, Dechanatstraße
Viola as Prima Donna
Master class with Prof. Nils Mönkemeyer

Saturday, 17 January 2026 | 3:00–6:00 p.m. | Concert Hall, Dechanatstraße
Make It Your Own
Workshop with Ionel Ungureanu and Sandro Nebieridze (pianist and composer)

Sunday, 18 January 2026 | 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Concert Hall, Dechanatstraße
Public audition training and discussion – expectations and reality
Insight into the professional orchestra scene: joint training, exchange and realistic perspectives with orchestra musicians.

Sunday, 25 January 2026 | 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, various rooms
Between Valley and Mountains
Master class with Vision String Quartet

Saturday, 31 January 2026 | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Concert Hall, Dechanatstraße
The Contemporary Master class with Garth Knox

Sunday, 1 February 2026 | 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, Concert Hall
The Contemporary Master class with Garth Knox