NORDIC MASTER IN FOLK MUSIC

Nordic Master in Folk Music (NoFo) – A two-year artistic master’s programme in motion between tradition and innovation

Do you want to develop your artistic voice through close engagement with Nordic folk music traditions and in collaboration with an international network of musicians and educators?
The Nordic Master in Folk Music is a unique two-year joint programme offered by four leading music academies in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway.

Here, musicians from across the Nordic region come together to deepen their personal expression, explore creative interaction in individually shaped ensemble projects, and develop their own artistic work in close relation to folk music traditions and professional contexts.

Tradition

The programme is grounded in the oral and embodied transmission methods of Nordic folk music. Through hands-on engagement with regional styles and expressions — guided by leading experts — you will connect with living traditions that continue to evolve.

Network

As a NoFo student, you will study across four countries: at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Danish National Academy of Music in Esbjerg, Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and Ole Bull Academy in Voss. This journey gives you access to a unique network of teachers, artists, researchers and peers — a community that often continues long after graduation.

One of the programme’s central goals is to create a smooth transition between education and professional life. Courses include knowledge about the international folk music scene and introduces you to relevant networks, organisations, and arrangers across the Nordic countries.

Collaboration

Ensemble work, arranging, improvisation and collective music-making form the core of the programme. You will strengthen your skills in listening, dialogue, and musical interaction as you encounter different traditions, personalities and perspectives — always with folk music as the shared foundation.

From 2026, the revised curriculum places greater emphasis on individual ensemble projects at each institution, giving you more space to explore your artistic voice in collaborative settings.The programme offers considerable freedom to create your own ensemble projects based on the networks you build at each study location. The framework is flexible and encourages artistic exploration, from intimate duo projects to larger ensemble works. This is your opportunity to develop your individual voice as a musician in collaboration with others.

Artistry

NoFo supports your ability to shape and lead your own artistic projects — from concept to performance. Courses in artistic research, reflective practice, and project management give you tools to develop a strong, independent artistic voice.
The final degree project runs throughout the programme and culminates in a presentation of your artistic work — both in practice and written reflection.

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Degree awarded: 

Master of Fine Arts in Music, 120 credits (Royal College of Music, Danish National Academy of Music)

Master of Music, 150 credits (Sibelius Academy)

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Study locations:

• Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden
• Danish National Academy of Music (SDMK) in Esbjerg, Denmark
• Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland
• Ole Bull Academy in Voss, Norway

Language of instruction: English

Apply between 15th. of October 2025 - 2nd. of February 2026

• Folk Musician - Master - Denmark's only folk music programme at the highest level