Peter Ablinger stands as one of the world’s preeminent composers of contemporary music, while his collaborator Sylwia Zytynska is a highly esteemed Polish percussionist and composer. We are thrilled to have them as workshop leaders as part of our project LYRA .

During these workshops, Zytynska and Ablinger will introduce participants to their artistic creations and engage them in a performance set to debut on October 18th, as one of the  highlights of the Prostneset Havneterminalen concert. The program will also feature other international and Norwegian musicians, including Alexander Rishaug, Anna Fisere, Stian Westerhus, and Nidia.

From time to time, Ablinger teaches composition at the Berlin Academy of Arts, while from 2012 to 2014 he was a lecturer at the University of Huddersfield, and has also served as guest conductor for prestigious ensembles including Klangforum Wien, United Berlin and Insel Musik Ensemble. Ablinger’s music has been performed by celebrated contemporary music performers and group including Irvine, Arditti, JACK Quartet, Quatuor Diotima and Wet Ink. Both Zytynska and Ablinger are experienced and original educators much respected by students.

Silvija Zytynska was born in Warsaw and learned to play piano, cello and percussion in Poland and Sweden. She plays both contemporary music and its free improvisation. She has taught students how to play percussion instruments at the City of Basel Music Academy since 1985, as well as being a member and co-founder of Zuhören Schweiz, an organisation dedicated to music education. For over 10 years, she has been one of the presenters of the radio programme Musik unserer Zeit on the Swiss station SRF2, where she joins colleagues in commenting on the latest contemporary music recordings.