"Crossing bows" is an intensive course bringing together Nordic and Baltic classical cello students and teachers to strengthen artistic expression and professional qualifications and enhance pedagogical methods. The project aimed to put a strong emphasis on instrumental and artistic development as well as openness and flexibility and ability to work collaboratively with other musicians in diverse cross-cultural settings.

The first session of "Crossing bows" took place 17 - 22 February 2024 at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and brought together nearly 40 cello professors and students from the Nordic and Baltic countries and guests from Brazil. The programme included individual lessons, workshops and ensemble practice and concluded with a concert featuring a cello orchestra consisting of all participants. Lessons and masterclasses were given by Henrik Brendstrup (Denmark), Sigurður Bjarki Gunnarsson and Sigurður Bjarki Gunnarsson (Iceland), Ēriks Kiršfelds (Latvia), Gleb Pyšniak (Lithuania), special guest Fabio Presgrave (Brazil) and Henry-David Varema (Estonia).

The second session of the project was organised 15 - 20 February 2025 at EAMT, continuing the collaboration with international music academies and bringing in a new partner institution, Uniarts Helsinki Sibelius Academy. Lessons and masterclasses were given by Henrik Brendstrup (Denmark), Sigurður Bjarki Gunnarsson (Iceland), Ēriks Kiršfelds and Guna Šnē (Latvia), Erkki Lahesmaa (Finland), Fabio Presgrave (Brazil) and Henry-David Varema (Estonia).

The third session was organised 17 - 21 February 2026 at EAMT, with the inclusion of a new partner institution, Royal College of Music in Stockholm. The project included individual lessons, lectures and three public concerts, among them an outreach event at Viru centre. Lessons and masterclasses were given by Henrik Brendstrup (Denmark), Rokas Vaitkevicius (Lithuania), Ēriks Kiršfelds and Guna Šnē (Latvia), Erkki Lahesmaa (Finland), Kati Raitinen (Sweden), special guests Kangho Lee (Korea), Fabio Presgrave (Brazil) and Henry-David Varema (Estonia).

Project partners
Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (coordinator)
Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus
Icelandic University of the Arts
Latvian Academy of Music
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
Uniarts Helsinki Sibelius Academy
Royal College of Music in Stockholm