Irish Chamber Orchestra Appoints New Artistic Partner

The Norwegian violinist and composer Henning Kraggerud will step into the role

The Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) has announced that the Norwegian composer and violinist Henning Kraggerud will commence a three-year term as the orchestra's Artistic Partner in August 2025. The ICO has previously partnered with musicians including Thomas Zehetmair and Jörg Widmann.

The announcement coincides with Kraggerud's latest appearance with the ICO in a series of concerts in Dublin, Limerick, and Newport-Mayo on April 10-12, in which he will perform his own interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

Kraggerud has collaborated with the ICO on two other occasions: in March 2022, he played a program of music from Norway, and in March 2024, he presented his own orchestral arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations.

Currently the Artistic Director of the Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Kraggerud has appeared as soloist or player/director with the Royal Danish Opera Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss, Toronto Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Danish National Symphony, Tonkünstler Vienna, BBC Scottish Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony, and Macao orchestras.

He is a Professor of Violin and Viola at the Norwegian Academy of Music, where he also teaches improvisation. Additionally, Kraggerud serves as the Chair of Violin and a Fellow at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

A prolific composer, he has more than 200 works to his name.

“From the outset, my collaboration with ICO has been exceptionally fulfilling due to the warmth and sincerity I’ve experienced from the players and team," Kraggerud said. "ICO is so open to exploring new ways of performing and rehearsing, including movement, dance, choreographic elements, and innovative programming, as well as meeting the audience through interactive experiences. Our work together has had a profound impact on me, and I’m excited to develop our relationship, nurturing ties with communities, inspiring each other’s creativity, and celebrating Ireland’s rich cultural heritage and its people."

"We hope to create new opportunities between the Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and ICO, at a time when intercultural ties are becoming so important. Ireland and Norway, as west-facing regions of Europe, can benefit from each other and present exciting possibilities for us. My three times Great Grandmother was Irish and touring with ICO has made me feel so much more than just 1/32nd Irish."

"I am delighted Henning Kraggerud will join our ICO family as Artistic Partner," said Gerry Keenan, ICO CEO. "Henning has consistently demonstrated his exceptional ability to connect with our audiences across Ireland, inspiring and delighting with every performance."

"His warm approach to music-making is rooted in a profound love for the music itself, and his deep desire to share that passion with our musicians and audiences is obvious. Each concert with Henning at the helm is an unforgettable experience, and we look forward to sharing many more extraordinary performances with him in the years to come."