Norwegian violist and composer NJORD KÅRASON FOSSNES (b. 2001) is a rising star in the classical music world, celebrated for his artistry and versatility. Having finished his bachelor in 2024 studying at the New England Conservatory in Boston under the renowned Kim Kashkashian, Fossnes has already achieved remarkable milestones in his young career. Fossnes has earned accolades from the Midgard and Virtuoso & BelCanto Competitions and won second prize at the inaugural Hindemith International Viola Competition in 2021. At 17, he gained widespread acclaim as the youngest participant in the ARD International Music Competition in Munich and returned at 22 to be the youngest semifinalist, performing and leading his own arrangement of Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the Munich Chamber Orchestra. Fossnes has also appeared as a soloist in Bartok Viola Concerto, Mozart Sinfonia Concertante and Hindemith Kammermusik 5 with Peter Tilling and HSO München in addition to Kurt Atterberg’s Suite for violin, viola and orchestra with violinist Gustav Rørmark and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Together with solo performances, Fossnes is a passionate chamber musician and performs at some of the most prestigious chamber festivals in the States and Europe such as Marlboro Music Festival, Cleveland ChamberFest, Caramoor Evnin Rising Stars, Fjord Classics, IMPULS festival and Festival&Friends. In 2023, he competed with Quartet Luminera in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition where they won the silver medal. Fossnes is also frequently invited to play with some of the leading chamber orchestras in Europe such as the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and Camerata Bern which has led to tours in Shanghai, Norway and Switzerland. From a young age, Fossnes has always been an avid composer. His works have been commissioned and played at Ose Kammerspel in Norway and PULSAR festival in Copenhagen, and in 2018 his orchestra piece Etyde was performed by the Oslo Philharmonic. Fossnes currently lives with his husband in Copenhagen where he pursues a master at the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Asbjørn Nørgaard, violist in the acclaimed Danish String Quartet. With a growing international presence, Fossnes continues to captivate audiences and shape the future of classical music. Fossnes plays on a Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, Piacenza 1745 viola, generously on loan from Anders Sveaas’ Charitable Foundation.
About our Rising Stars
ChamberFest Cleveland’s Rising Stars are recognized for their extraordinary talent. They are invited to deepen their connection to the art of chamber music by immersing themselves in the festival, rehearsing side by side with the leading chamber musicians of our time, and performing in a professional concert setting for discerning audiences and critics alike.
The Rising Stars program is generously sponsored by Michael Frank and the late Pat Snyder.