Inger Hannisdal 

Norwegian violinist and composer Inger Hannisdal (b. 1991 in Oslo) works at the intersection of folk, improvised and contemporary music. Exposed to contemporary classical from a young age and with an early education in both classical and jazz violin, she completed a bachelor in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean studies at Sciences Po Paris (2012-2015) and then studied Arabic music and violin at Université Antonine in Lebanon (2016-2019). Inger performs traditional Middle Eastern music in a number of ensembles, including Syrian folk music group Assa’aleek, Moroccan gnawa band Gnawa Youmala and several others, spanning from tarab and folk to classical Arabic and Persian music. 

In her own music she combines folk music timbres with contemporary impulses, shifting between composed and improvised structures. Focusing on microtonality, her compositions draw on modes from both Norwegian and Middle Eastern traditions. As a solo performer she uses preparations and extended techniques on the violin with an approach that, while experimental, retains a connection to folklore.