First Viola Festival in Bremen

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, the internationally renowned violist and 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. The event is supported by outstanding artists such as Borsch4Breakfast, Garth Knox, Prof. Nils Mönkemeyer, Sander Stuart, Ionel Ungureanu in cooperation with pianist and composer Sandro Nebieridze, and the Vision String Quartet. Admission is free on all four weekends. The workshops and masterclasses are also open to the public.

Larger than a violin but smaller than a cello, with a deeper and fuller sound – this is how the violin's ‘big sister’ can be described. While the viola continued to play a subordinate role in the orchestra well into the 19th century, today it is at the centre of musical life for many musicians and composers. With its intermediate tones, it acts as an important link in the orchestra and has also become indispensable as a solo instrument.

Thanks to festival initiator and outstanding violist Sara Kim, the instrument is finally coming into focus in the Bremen music world. With Sara Kim, the HfK Bremen is experiencing a new boom in viola playing. Since she took up her post in April 2025, the number of viola students has doubled. The Bremen professor is one of the few female violists in teaching. The world of the viola is predominantly male, which is also reflected in the festival programme.

In her teaching, Kim is keen not to follow the old school, but to move with the times musically and respond to the needs of her students. She herself received a very conservative academic education, in which there was little room for creativity. Whereas during her student days the aim was to secure one of the few coveted places in an orchestra, today not all students want to join an orchestra. Instead, they are open to improvisation and experimental formats, for which the HfK Bremen offers ideal conditions with its interdisciplinary opportunities. In addition, according to Kim, in contrast to the larger anonymous academies such as Berlin, Munich or Leipzig, where she previously worked, there are many more networking opportunities at the Bremen Institute and in the city itself. Kim says of her personal approach to teaching: ‘If you can hear the violas in the orchestra, it's badly played. If we're missing, you notice it too. Teaching is like playing the viola. You shouldn't be able to see me, but I'm still there. Students shouldn't sound like their teachers. It's about supporting them, seeing what suits them and what they enjoy, and encouraging their individuality.’

On all four weekends, the HfK Bremen invites you to free concerts with renowned greats from the viola scene at Dechanatstraße 13-15. The accompanying workshops and master classes for students of the HfK Bremen are also open to the public and offer a glimpse behind the scenes of music studies. The Viola Festival will bring Kim, who took up her professorship at the University of the Arts Bremen in April 2025, together with her long-awaited inaugural concert entitled ‘Voice of the Viola’ on Friday, 9 January 2026, at 6 p.m. For Sara Kim, the sound of the viola expresses all the deep emotions that are difficult to put into words. Unlike the violin, it is not just about loud and obvious emotions such as joy or sadness. It is about nostalgia, loss, uncertainty, tears of happiness and even the warmth of an embrace. According to Kim, the viola conveys emotions that are deeply rooted in the heart but rarely expressed. The programme includes original works for solo viola by György Ligeti, Paul Hindemith and Igor Strawinsky, among others.

Prof. Nils Mönkemeyer, who was recently named University Teacher of the Year 2025 by the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers, will be a guest on the first weekend of the festival. Mönkemeyer is not only known for his excellent teaching and pedagogical skills, but is also committed to building new bridges in music, both as a soloist and in cooperation with his students. He brings music to unusual places and to people who, for a variety of reasons, would not normally be able to attend concerts. Under the motto ‘Viola as Prima Donna,’ visitors can gain insight into Mönkemeyer's teaching and everyday life as a music student at the HfK on Saturday, 10 January 2026, as well as listen to the results of the master class in the final concert and chat with Nils Mönkemeyer at the after-show party.  

Violist and composer Ionel Ungureanu combines classical virtuosity with modern arrangements and jazz and folk influences. With his band Borsch4Breakfast, he represents creative boundary-crossing between tradition and innovation, making him an inspiring guest for students who want to discover new soundscapes and forge their own paths. Piano lovers will also get their money's worth this weekend: Ungureanu is bringing along award-winning pianist and composer Sandro Nebieridze, who is an absolutely exceptional talent. ‘Make It Your Own’ is the motto on Saturday, 17 January 2026: after an exciting improvisation and arrangement workshop, Ungureanu and Nebieridze will play a joint concert with the students in the university's concert hall.

The third weekend of the festival attracts visitors with two concert highlights: Borsch4Breakfast are known for their ‘innovative thinking’ and will perform on Saturday, 24 January at 8 pm. The quartet has created its own unique style: their arrangements and compositions blend Balkan jazz, folk and classical music into a rousing mix of genres.
Sunday offers four programme items centred around the award-winning Vision String Quartet. After the master class, the focus will be on violist Sander Stuart. He is a producer, influencer, podcaster and member of the Vision String Quartet. Stuart brings not only musical excellence, but also media and visual creativity to the table. As a producer and podcaster, he works at the interface of music, video art and social media, and as an interview guest, he is not only an exciting source of inspiration for musicians who want to think and work in an interdisciplinary way. The Vision String Quartet ensemble combines classical chamber music with contemporary sound and light concepts. During the concert on Sunday evening, it will demonstrate how modern, versatile and audience-friendly chamber music can be today. The concert will be followed by an after-show party with an interactive artist talk in Mensa 13.

The final weekend on 31 January and 1 February features an icon: Irish violist and composer Garth Knox is one of the most important voices in contemporary music. As a former member of the Arditti Quartet and the Ensemble InterContemporain, he stands for innovation and sound research. His work with the viola and viola d'amore opens up new and fascinating soundscapes. After a two-day master class, he will play the closing concert of the Viola Festival on Sunday together with Sara Kim and the course participants. For children and families, there will be a special concert beforehand under the motto ‘Bratschonauten gesucht!’ (Viola explorers wanted!), in cooperation with the Department of Music Education, where children can get to know the viola as an adventure instrument. 

‘Viola. Finally.’ from 9 January to 1 February 2026

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

Saturday, 10 January 2026 | 12 noon–6 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, concert hall
Viola Festival: The viola as prima donna
Master class with Prof. Nils Mönkemeyer

Saturday, 10 January 2026 | 8:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, Concert Hall
Viola Festival: Viola as Prima Donna
Final concert of the master class with Prof. Nils Mönkemeyer

Saturday, 10 January 2026 | 9:30 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, Music Cellar / Cafeteria 13
After-show party

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

Saturday, 17 January 2026 | 7:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, Concert Hall
Viola Festival: Make It Your Own
Concert with Ionel Ungureanu, Sandro Nebieridze (pianist and composer) and students from the HfK Bremen  

Sunday, 18 January 2026 | 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, Concert Hall
Public audition training

Saturday, 24 January 2026 | 8:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, Gallery
Concert Borsch4Breakfast

Saturday, 24 January 2026 | 10:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, Music Cellar / Cafeteria 13
After-Show Party

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

Sunday, 25 January 2026 | 5:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, Concert Hall
Viola Festival: Between Valley and Mountains
Interview and discussion with Sander Stuart

Sunday, 25 January 2026 | 7:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, concert hall
Viola Festival: Between Valley and Mountains
Concert by Vision String Quartet

Sunday, 25 January 2026 | 9:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, music cellar / cafeteria 13
After-show party

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

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

Sunday, 1 February 2026 | 4:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, Gallery
Viola Festival: Children's Concert – ‘Viola Astronauts Wanted!’
A participatory concert for young and old (ages 4 and up)

Sunday, 1 February 2026 | 6:00 p.m. | Dechanatstraße, Concert Hall
Viola Festival: The Contemporary
Master Class Final Concert
Garth Knox plays his own works with Sara Kim and students from the HfK Bremen  

Sara Kim, born in Daejeon (South Korea) in 1988, completed her musical training at the Gnessin Special School in Moscow and at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin, where she studied violin and later viola. Sara is also a graduate of the Berlin University of the Arts, where she received top marks in the instrumental soloist programme. Her artistic development was further shaped by studies in the chamber music class of the Artemis Quartet and a master class at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.

As a soloist and chamber musician, Sara Kim has performed at major festivals, including the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival and the Gstaad Menuhin Festival. She has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Braunschweig State Orchestra and the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra. One of the highlights of her career was her performance at Bellevue Palace in 2012, where she played before Federal President Joachim Gauck at the invitation of the German Music Foundation.
Her extensive orchestral experience includes positions as principal violist with the Braunschweig State Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. She has also made guest appearances with leading orchestras such as the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the MDR Symphony Orchestra Leipzig. She gained her pedagogical expertise as a lecturer at the music academies in Berlin, Munich and Leipzig.

Over 1,000 students from more than 70 countries, 65 professors, 89 administrative staff and around 150 lecturers make the University of the Arts Bremen a lively place. 

The HfK is a university of apparent contradictions. It is regionally anchored and yet extremely internationally oriented. It spans various locations throughout the city, which are very different, ranging from classical to floating and contemporary. It is both an art and music university. This context, which defines the university, is of exceptional quality and provides a framework that enables both collective and individual artistic development to flourish.

The range of courses on offer includes fine art, integrated design, digital media and artistic and artistic-pedagogical training in music. Since 2020, the HfK has also offered the opportunity to pursue a doctorate as part of its artistic-scientific PhD programme, particularly in the areas of integrated design and digital media. Dialogue and cooperation are specifically promoted through open courses and joint examination supervision, as well as through workshops, studios and thematic projects. With around 400 events per year, the HfK is a cultural and social pillar of the city of Bremen. 
The relationship between the members of the university community, their diverse collaborations, the close supervision and the various regional and international collaborations contribute to the students developing strong individual characters. This ultimately results in work that is highly relevant to society.