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Tectonics 2024 Artist Profile

Norway-based Sarah-Jane Summers and Juhani Silvola combine Scottish and Nordic traditions with an experimental approach. They were nominated for a Norwegian Grammy in 2021 and their four albums all received Top of the World from Songlines. Summers/Silvola have previously written Sølvstrøk (50min) for chamber orchestra and their duo, and How To Raise The Wind (50min) for string quintet and their duo, for which they recently won NOPA's Music Prize 2022.

Originally from a farm just outside Inverness, Sarah-Jane is a world-renowned tradition bearer of the Highland fiddle style, has a master’s degree on the Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle, and is currently doing a PhD in Artistic Research at the Norwegian Academy of Music. She has released six solo albums, three of which consist of experimental works focusing on extended techniques. Her latest solo album Echo Stane was released on Another Timbre to great acclaim. She has worked with, amongst others, The Bozzini Quartet, Susanna Wallumrød, Julie Fowlis, Benedicte Maurseth, and Highasakite.

Juhani is a sought-after Finnish guitarist/producer and has a master’s degree in electroacoustic composition from the Norwegian Academy of Music, where he studied with Natasha Barrett. He has released five solo albums, ranging from electroacoustic compositions to solo prepared guitar, and has worked with Susanna Wallumrød, Nils Petter Molvær, Frode Haltli’s Avant Folk, and Torgeir Vassvik.