Skari
Sound Switchers
Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival (NO)
Sound Switchers brings together six young people ages 16–19 to develop cultural programming and organize events for their peers, using contemporary and classical music as points of departure. The project aims to broaden access to new listening experiences and encourage curiosity about music that may be unfamiliar or often perceived as inaccessible.
Participants work closely with composers, performers, and other artists active in contemporary and experimental music, gaining firsthand insight into artistic processes, program development, and live performance practices. Sound Switchers is a collaboration between the Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival, the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, and the Oslo Philharmonic—three leading institutions in Norway’s contemporary music field.
For the 2026–2027 edition, six paid part-time positions will be offered to young people from six different districts of Oslo. Employed as “Sound Switchers,” participants will serve as advisors, collaborators, and cultural ambassadors within the three partner organizations, helping shape youth-oriented activities and public events. The goal is to engage a broader and more diverse young audience through programming developed with—and informed by—young people themselves. The Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival will serve as the lead employer.
Recruitment will prioritize diversity across gender, cultural background, musical experience, and perspective. The project seeks young people who are curious, dependable, and motivated to explore how contemporary music can be shared and experienced in ways that resonate with their peers. Providing paid positions helps remove financial barriers to participation while offering meaningful professional experience within the arts and cultural sector.
The project’s pilot phase brought together four participants from two Oslo districts whose interests ranged from theater and youth politics to choral singing, music production, and film. While their backgrounds and artistic interests differed, participants shared a desire to create informal social and cultural spaces where young people could encounter new forms of music and artistic expression. By involving young people directly in the development and presentation of cultural programs, Sound Switchers contributes to long-term audience development for contemporary music and fosters stronger connections between cultural institutions and younger generations.
Sound Switchers is supported by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.
Further Information:
ultima.no
Dates
November 20, 2026
Holmlia Kulturhavn, Søndre Nordstrand District, Oslo
November 23, 2026
Youth Club, Bjerke District, Oslo
February 20, 2027
Youth Club, Grünerløkka District, Oslo
March 13, 2027
Youth Club, Grorud District, Oslo
April 17, 2027
Youth Club, St. Hanshaugen District, Oslo
May 8, 2027
Youth Club, Stovner District, Oslo
June 5, 2027
Concert venue, Stovner District, Oslo