Festivalakademiet
Gjest: Shabaka Hutchings
Once again, Moldejazz invites audiences to the Festival Academy – the festival's own forum for in-depth conversations, reflection and inspiring discussions. Here, festivalgoers can meet some of the festival's most distinguished artists and cultural figures in an intimate setting, with space to explore the stories, ideas and creative processes behind the music and art.
Since its launch in 2000, the Festival Academy has become an important part of Moldejazz's artistic identity. These conversations offer audiences the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the artists, complementing the concert experience with fresh perspectives, thoughtful reflections and unexpected insights.
The sessions are hosted by acclaimed Norwegian music journalist, critic and editor Audun Vinger. Over many years, Vinger has established himself as one of Norway's leading voices on jazz and contemporary music, renowned for his ability to create engaging, insightful and open conversations between artists and audiences.
New for this year, the Festival Academy moves to Die Tankstelle – Moldejazz's new venue and meeting place for talks, concerts, club nights, culture and social gatherings.
The Program
Monday 13 July
13:00–13:30 – Nduduzo Makhathini (ZA)
13:30–14:00 – Isaiah Collier (US)
Tuesday 14 July
13:00–13:30 – Sasha Huber (FIN/CHE), Festival Artist 2026
13:30–14:00 – Karoline Wallace, SpareBank 1 SMN Jazz Scholarship Recipient
Wednesday 15 July
13:00–13:45 – esperanza spalding (US), Artist in Residence
Thursday 16 July
13:00–13:45 – Shabaka Hutchings (UK)
Friday 17 July
13:00–13:30 – Linda Melsom, Festival Director, Moldejazz
13:30–14:00 – Sissel Vera Pettersen, Trondheim Voices
Saturday 18 July
13:00–13:30 – Morten Gunnar Larsen, Ytre Suløens Jass-ensemble
13:30–14:00 – Petter Dalane, Cosmic Swing Orchestra
This year's Festival Academy brings together an exceptionally distinguished line-up of guests. Audiences will have the opportunity to meet this year's Artist in Residence, esperanza spalding, South African pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, uncompromising saxophonist Isaiah Collier, British musician and composer Shabaka Hutchings, visual artist and Festival Artist 2026 Sasha Huber, this year's SpareBank 1 SMN Jazz Scholarship recipient, singer and composer Karoline Wallace, Moldejazz Festival Director Linda Melsom, vocalist Sissel Vera Pettersen, and two generations of jazz musicians represented by pianist Morten Gunnar Larsen of Ytre Suløens Jass-Ensemble and Petter Dalane of Cosmic Swing Orchestra.
The Festival Academy is open to all festivalgoers and offers a rare opportunity to get up close to some of this year's most compelling artistic voices. These sessions are not about the concerts themselves, but about the people behind them – their ideas, creative processes and the passion that drives their work.