This is our new Head of Festival!

A Man with Extensive Experience in the Festival and Music Industry Is Set to Take Over One of the Region’s Oldest Festivals

Chairwoman Nina Hansen is very pleased with the hiring process.

"The Northern Lights Festival has solidified its position as an attractive cultural cornerstone in the north, and the list of well-qualified applicants for the position of new festival director was long. We’ve had a rewarding recruitment process and are very satisfied with the hiring of Sergej," says the chairwoman.

The incoming festival director outshone 21 other applicants, and Hansen is confident they have found the right candidate.

"Sergej is a wonderful person and has a rare breadth of skills, ranging from a strong artistic sense to impressive administrative abilities. With Sergej at the helm, the Northern Lights Festival will continue its exciting development, and we look forward to what’s ahead," says the chairwoman.

Schroeter has a background as a performing musician, in addition to running a festival, a jazz club, and a music school. He is a well-known figure in the cultural scene in the north and looks forward to using his experience and network to take the Northern Lights Festival to new heights.

"As an enthusiastic concert organizer and culture consumer, it felt natural for me to express my interest when the Northern Lights Festival announced the position. Ever since I moved to Tromsø nearly 10 years ago, the Northern Lights Festival has been a major part of my cultural life," says Schroeter.

As a student at the Conservatory, he had the chance early on to perform on stage during the festival, and as an audience member, Schroeter describes the festival as an event where musical highlights are endless. He believes the Northern Lights Festival is unique because it encompasses such a broad range of genres and art forms while appealing to both younger and older audiences in the city.

"I’m itching to further develop one of the region’s oldest and most important cultural institutions!" says the incoming festival director.

Sergej spent his formative years in Bærum and Oslo, but his Northern Norwegian roots drew him to Tromsø in 2014. He completed his master's degree in performing rhythmic clarinet at the Music Conservatory in 2021. In 2019, he took over as festival director for Tromsø Jazz Festival and has since overseen five festivals. In the fall of 2020, he also took over the operation of Tromsø Jazz Club and Tromsø Music School. He brings broad cultural experience, having worked in roles ranging from church attendant at Oslo Cathedral and extra in the opera to professional musician and concert producer. Now, new tasks await.

"In many ways, I’m stepping into a well-prepared role—Heidi, the team, and the board have given the Northern Lights Festival a real boost in recent years. My immediate task will be to pick up all the right threads and carry on, including the fantastic work to provide children and young people in Tromsø with a richer and more accessible cultural offering. I look forward to putting my personal stamp on the festival’s artistic profile and pushing the boundaries of genres even further, aiming for a festival that appeals to everyone in the city," says Schroeter.

Schroeter will take up his position on March 1.