Sunniva Skaug
Viola
Born: 2003
Nationality: Norwegian
Instrument: Viola
Studies: Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo
Teachers: Lars Anders Tomter, Francien Schatborn, Marjolein Dispa, Julia Dinerstein
Chamber music: Viola Sisters, Stift Musical Encounters, Peter de Grote Festival, Zeister Muziekdagen (Jerusalem Quartet mentorship)
Moving Talent masterpiece: Antonín Dvořák – String Quintet No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 97
About Sunniva
Sunniva has received numerous awards at competitions in the Netherlands and abroad and has appeared regularly as a soloist with orchestras. An enthusiastic chamber musician, she has participated in festivals including Stift Musical Encounters, the Peter de Grote Festival and Zeister Muziekdagen, where she took part in a two-year mentorship programme with the Jerusalem Quartet. Together with her sister Ursula, she forms the Viola Sisters, a duo that has performed at the Grachtenfestival and several International Viola Congresses around the world.
Artistic vision
For her Moving Talent Fellowship, Sunniva has chosen Antonín Dvořák's String Quintet No. 3 in E-flat major, a work written during the composer's stay in the United States. Inspired by Dvořák's fascination with both his Czech heritage and the musical traditions he encountered in America, Sunniva is creating a programme that combines the quintet with Czech folk music, improvisation and historical letters. Through these elements, she explores the story of a composer who remained deeply connected to his roots while embracing new influences. As Dvořák himself was a violist, the viola has a particularly rich and expressive role in this quintet. From that perspective, Sunniva invites audiences to experience the music within the broader context of Dvořák's life, travels and artistic imagination.
In her own words
"I would love to be part of the Moving Talent Fellowship because I enjoy discovering new ways of shaping concerts and presenting classical music. It would be a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with the Matangi Quartet, an ensemble I have admired since I first encountered them as a child. I hope to continue creating concert programmes like this in the future, building a stronger connection between audiences and the musicians on stage."
Programme
Antonín Dvořák
String Quintet No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 97
Czech folk music and improvisations
The final programme will be developed during the Moving Talent Fellowship.
Performers
Sunniva Skaug – viola
Matangi Quartet
