Passing Remark

Step into a world of sound… Icelandic composer and Holland Festival 2026 associate artist Hildur Guðnadóttir presents brand-new work for an XXL brass ensemble. Performed outdoors and free of charge, it creates a living soundscape in which visitors can walk, get lost and explore.

Passing Remark is part of Exploratorium, the Holland Festival series in which conservatory students collaborate with leading international creators. Under Guðnadóttir’s direction and coached by musicians from the ensemble Het Muziek, the young talents learn the piece in a short time and perform it three times in Westerpark. A playful, experimental adventure for both musicians and audience alike.

'I love listening to their perspectives, and hopefully giving them a bit of courage to trust their own. That’s also what I find so inspiring about projects like Passing Remark, creating spaces where students can meet artists, experiment, and work beyond the usual frameworks. For many conservatory students, that’s a huge adventure, because those institutions – as the name suggests – can be quite conservative. They’re often taught there’s a "right" or "wrong’" way to do things. But I really believe there isn’t. There are so many ways to approach a single note. It’s all about point of view.' 

— Hildur Guðnadóttir