Nordic Viola

Nordic Viola will take you on an extraordinary journey in words and music to the Faroe Islands, Orkney and Shetland, Iceland and Greenland. The islands are bound together by a common seafaring heritage and share musical and cultural connections. In a programme shaped by travelling in the region, immersed in the culture of the Far North, viola player Katherine Wren shares contemporary reflections, traditional melodies and personal testimonies that are shaped by vast northern landscapes.

Founded in 2016, Nordic Viola is a flexible ensemble of woodwind and string players forming musical and cultural connections in the North Atlantic Region with an emphasis on contemporary music and its relationship with traditional forms.

A renewed focus on the Arctic is at the centre of Katherine’s current work, an interest that dates back to her first visit to Greenland in 2015 and subsequent 4-week period living in Nuuk, Greenland in 2017, a period where she made lasting connections with musicians and composers in Greenland, including Arnannguaq Gerstrøm. Arnannguaq’s work will feature in Nordic Viola’s new project, John Rae and the Northern Telegraph Route, alongside commissions from Stuart McRae, Eli Tausen á Lava and Ailie Robertson.

In October 2025 Katherine premiered Karen Power’s Polar Soundings a new 40 minute work for solo viola and sound installation at soundfestival and in January 2026 she performed Charles Ross -the new forest- and guested with Ensemble Stelkur in Dark Music Days, Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavik, Iceland In 2024, Katherine was commissioned
alongside percussionist, sound artist and composer Renzo Spiteri and Greenlandic composer Arnannguaq Gerstrøm to produce Arctic Edgelands for Nordic Music Days in Glasgow.

Current Projects

John Rae and the Northern Telegraph Route – Inspired by Dr John Rae’s 1860 journey along the newly proposed northern telegraph route linking Shetland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland – Premiering at Orkney International Science Festival on 9th September 2026

Other major touring projects can be found here

Want to read more about our work? Click here

Selected Past Performances

2026 – Edgelands – with Ensemble Stelkur and Charles Ross at Myrkir Músídagar, Harpa, Reykjavik

2025 – The Voyage of The Fox (Orkney International Science Festival) The Pilgrim’s Path – Gemma McGregor (St. Magnus International Festival) Keening, Song of the Stranding, (Isle of Lewis) -the new forest – Charles Ross (Eglisstaðir, Iceland)

2024 – Arctic Edgelands at Nordic Music Days, Glasgow

2023-25 – On A Wing and A Prayer with Renzo Spiteri/Pete and Joe Stollery/Lisa Robertson

2022 -2024 Sagas and Seascapes Made In Scotland Showcase Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Tours to Orkney and the Faroe Islands alongside Faroese ensemble Aldubáran

2019 – 2 Violas with Charles Ross – Mengi, Reykjavik and Slátarhusið, Egilsstaðir (Iceland)

Other major festivals: soundfestival, Aberdeen (2018/21/25), WayWord, Aberdeen (2023), Arbroath 2020+1, Sumartónar, Faroe Islands (2018), Blue Church Summer Concerts, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland – with Arnhildur Valgarðsdóttir (2022)

Katherine has performed in Iceland with violist, composer and improviser Charles Ross in Mengi (Reykjavik) and in Slátarhusið (Egilsstaðir) as well as with pianist Arnhildur Valgarðsdóttir in the Blue Church concert series in Seyðisfjörður.

Nordic Viola has been commended for their work commissioning emerging women composers including Gemma McGregor, Lillie Harris, Linda Buckley, Anna Appleby, Arnannguaq Gerstrøm and Lisa Robertson whose work features on Nordic Viola’s first album release, Elsewhere, Elsewhen.

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