“All festivals should study how Only Connect creates its program. Audiences are taken on a total experience and emerge with new perspectives on space, sound, and life.”
– Torkjell Hovland, Ballade, May 6, 2022

 

Bjørnar Habbestad’s curatorial practice spans experimental music, sound art, and interdisciplinary formats. His artistic collaborations are marked by a deep commitment to sonic exploration, striving to support artitic ideas with production excellence in order to create experiences and spaces for radical listening.

Selected projects

– Pat Thomas – Artist-in-Residence (2025): Commissioned Madad for Kitchen Orchestra, duo concert with Mark Knoop, and lecture-performance Between the Notes.

– Unboxing Music / Writing in Circles (2025): Installations and performances with Alwynne Pritchard, Cathy van Eck, Sarah Saviet, Jack Sheen, and others.

– KORK+ (2024): Orchestral program spanning acoustic noise, meditative textures, and stylistic collage. Featuring Mofakham, Miller, Rezaei, Ilan Volkov, and ABYSS.

– Particular.Universal (2024): Sound art exhibition co-curated with Monica Holmen. Works by Signe Lidén, Erik Dæhlin, Jiska Huizing, and more.

– Orchestra of Futurist Noise Intoners (2022–23): Commissioned works for Russolo’s Intonarumori, with tours in Norway and Poland.

– UngKurator / Handbook of Wellbeing (2022–25): Platform for emerging curators and composers, mentoring Maia Viken, Luis F. Amaya, Laura Kumwenda.

– Gebrokken – We Listen Together (2022): Sound walk for Only Connect Oslo, exploring urban identity through voice and electroacoustic music.

– KinoKammer (2021): 10-channel audiovisual premieres by Lasse Marhaug and Vicky Bennett, co-produced with Black Box Teater and Recombinant Media Labs.

– Ekeberg kaller! (2020): Outdoor concert in Ekebergparken with music by George Lewis, Ruth Anderson, and Wolfgang Plagge. Featuring Mads Kjeldgaard, David Morton, and Oslo Brassband.

– TEIP (2018): Mini-festival on tape-based experimental music. More info

– Listening to Gerard Grisey (2018): Norwegian premiere of Megalithes and a new commentary piece by Anders Tveit. Performed by NyNorsk Messingkvintett and Brasskompaniet, conducted by Haldis Rønning. More info