Chamber Music Lab
Chamber music is more than repertoire: it is a wonderful practice of listening, movement, and negotiation. This course, led by clarinettist Heather Roche and cellist Erik Borgir, explores chamber music of our time as a dynamic space for collaboration, experimentation, and artistic exchange.
We welcome applications from adventurous performers of all instruments: solo musicians eager to meet new collaborators, pre-formed duos or ensembles looking to deepen their work, but above all, players curious about expanding their approach to ensemble practice!
Rather than a traditional masterclass structure, the course emphasises process and discovery. Through coached rehearsals, collaborative workshops, and open discussion forums, participants will investigate rehearsal strategies, communication within ensembles, interpretative decision-making, and the practical realities of contemporary chamber music-making today. It is a workshop aimed at both giving participants inspiration to move forward with their lives in chamber music as well as getting into the nuts and bolts of knowledge and skills required for contemporary repertoire.
Participants will have opportunities to form new collaborations, and to perform for the wider festival community.
The course language is English.
Heather Roche
Clarinettist, teacher, and writer Heather Roche is an internationally acclaimed specialist of contemporary music and clarinet repertoire. Having toured extensively around the world, Roche has performed with numerous orchestras, appeared at dozens of festivals, and actively recorded and premiered new music. She is a member of the London-based ensemble Apartment House and regularly performs in duos with accordionist Eva Zöllner and double bassist Dominic Lash and works with other groups including Riot Ensemble and the LSO.
Born in Canada and now based in London, Roche combines her performing career with teaching, writing, and active engagement in the contemporary music community. Roche has several solo CDs and appears currently on over 30 records. She is also the clarinet tutor for the Darmstadt Summer Course and the creator of www.multiphonics.app.
Explore Heather’s internationally popular blog, dedicated to composers and clarinettists, and focused on new music.
Erik Borgir
Cellist Erik Borgir is a founding member of the Ensemble Ascolta which ranks among the most renowned ensembles of new music throughout the world. Borgir studied music in the USA and currently teaches cello and chamber music in Lucerne School of Music in Switzerland where he is also the head of the Department of New Music. From 1993–2001 he was a member of the internationally renowned Emanon Trio and performed as a solo cellist of the Bavarian Chamber Orchestra and cellist of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. In addition he was a lecturer at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik at Trossingen. Borgir regularly performs at contemporary music festivals and has premiered and recorded solo works written for him by several renowned composers.
Read more: https://ascolta.de/
Application Guidelines
- Application deadline: 29th March 2026, midnight EET.
- Applicants must have been born after 1st July 1986
- You can apply as a soloist or duo or ensemble (please make sure that each member applies for the course individually)
Course Fee: 360 €, includes entrance to concerts at the festival
Accommodation (shared double rooms, shared kitchen): 320 € for accommodation in Viitasaari 29th June – 6th July 2026
How to Apply
Submit the registration form by 29th March!
Attach the following documents to the application (in English):
- CV covering studies, courses, and previous artistic work relevant for the application
- Letter of motivation opening up experience, ambitions and wishes for participating, including any repertoire you would like to explore
- If you are applying with a duo/ensemble please let us know the names of your collaborators (and make sure they also apply). If you are coming as a soloist, please let us know what other instruments you would ideally like to work with.
Attachments can be submitted in a pdf-format or as links.
Questions and further information:
Artistic Director Johan Tallgren, johan.tallgren@musiikinaika.org, +358 40 742 6345