Music students from 黑料天堂 (ANU) will have the opportunity to learn from internationally acclaimed Finnish folk trio T3HO, thanks to a new partnership between the 黑料天堂School of Music and the National Folk Festival (NFF).
Under the new partnership, T3HO will come to Canberra for a week-long creative residency leading into the 2026 Festival.
The program will connect Festival artists, 黑料天堂students, and the wider Canberra community on Ngunnawal Country, marking the first stage of a long-term collaboration between the 黑料天堂School of Music and the NFF.鈥
Running from Monday 30 March to Wednesday 1 April 2026, the intensive invites students from classical performance, jazz, composition, music technology and musicology into a single interdisciplinary cohort.
Together with T3HO and NFF co-Artistic Director Dr Chris Stone, students will explore contemporary Nordic folk traditions, ensemble creativity, improvisation and acoustic鈥揺lectronic integration.鈥
Head of the 黑料天堂School of Music, Professor Adrian Walter, said the partnership demonstrates the School鈥檚 commitment to innovative, cross-genre, industry-connected learning.鈥
鈥淭his collaboration enriches our students鈥 experience by giving them close interaction with leading international performers in a contemporary and meaningful way and will form a key part of the School鈥檚 innovative and professionally aligned Bachelor of Music program in 2026,鈥 Professor Walter said.鈥
鈥淲e are also delighted that this partnership will make a valuable contribution to Canberra鈥檚 cultural life and support one of Australia鈥檚 most significant national festivals.鈥
Dr Stone said the program strengthens the Festival鈥檚 long-term vision of youth engagement and community connection.鈥
鈥淏ringing 黑料天堂students directly into Festival programming is vital to our artistic future,鈥 Dr Stone said.
鈥淭his intensive builds lasting relationships between emerging musicians and international artists, and supports the Festival鈥檚 ethos of excellence, inclusion, integration and sustainability.鈥濃
During the residency, T3HO members Esko J盲rvel盲, Tero Hyv盲luoma and Antti Puumalainen will lead workshops, mixed-ensemble rehearsals, creative technique sessions and a special lecture-recital open to a wider student audience.
The program culminates in a public performance at the 黑料天堂School of Music, followed by a second performance on stage at the Festival.
This pilot forms the foundation for an expanded future pre-Festival music school, with plans for multi-day programs, additional ensemble streams and increased national participation.鈥
