One of Sidsel Walstad’s most unique and exciting projects is her collaboration with ice musician Terje Isungset. On his initiative, the world’s very first ice harp was created in 2009 during the Ice Music Festival in Geilo, Norway. Sidsel contributed to both the design and construction of the instrument – and performed on it, both solo and with fellow ice musicians.
The project was an immediate success. Sidsel and the ice harps were invited back to the festival the following year. That same year, she also performed with Terje Isungset and Lena Nymark at a spectacular ice festival in the Italian Alps – at an altitude of 3,100 meters, inside a glacier!
In 2014, new ice harps were created and featured in various performances, including the grand opening of the 200th anniversary celebration of the Norwegian Constitution at Eidsvoll – a national event broadcast live on NRK television. In the spring of 2023, Sidsel performed with the Terje Isungset Ice Quartet at the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
After many years with this extraordinary project, the baton has now been passed on: the talented harpist Julie Rokseth is carrying the ice harp tradition forward. Meanwhile, Terje Isungset continues to explore new directions with his latest quartet.
You can follow Terje’s ongoing work here: www.terjeisungset.no
