In interaction with Ole Schmidt

Artistic research (KUV)

by Bjarke Mogensen Jesper Sivebæk

The project 'In Interaction with Ole Schmidt' rediscovered and revitalized the concert works for guitar and accordion by the Danish conductor and composer Ole Schmidt (1928–2010). Through artistic research and experimentation, the project explored the performer's role as interpreter, curator of musical cultural heritage, and creative collaborator in bringing overlooked works back to life.

The project resulted in artistically informed revisions, performances, and recordings of Schmidt's works, while students were actively involved throughout the entire process – from artistic research and experimentation to concert performance and recording. In this way, the project not only expanded the repertoire for guitar and accordion but also strengthened teaching and contributed to renewed awareness of an important Danish composer.

The project was carried out in close collaboration between accordionist Bjarke Mogensen and guitarist Jesper Sivebæk during the period 2021–2026.

Project Outcomes

Sheet music publication: Guitar Concerto (Edition Wilhelm Hansen).
CD release: Concerto No. 2 (Orchid Classics, 2025).
Album release: The Forgotten Legacy (OUR Recordings, 2026).
Article: "In Interaction with Ole Schmidt – Bringing a 1976 Guitar Concerto Back to Life", (in Danish) Danish Guitar Society, April 2025.
Research article: Bjarke Mogensen, Jesper Sivebæk & Anne Gry Haugland, "Interacting with Ole Schmidt – Artistic Co-Creation in the Encounter with the Musical Work" (forthcoming).
Video documentation: Premiere performances by students from the Royal Danish Academy of Music, together with lectures on the project's methods and outcomes (May 2025).
Concerts and public engagement: Performances in Denmark and internationally, including the FOKU Festival at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, as well as a number of additional concerts and a release event in connection with "The Forgotten Legacy".
Curriculum development: Teaching modules in arrangement, transcription, and artistic co-creation for guitar and accordion.