Frederik doesn’t hesitate for a second when asked what he took away from his time at Roskilde Festival Højskole:
“I’ve learned so much about live production, which I now use professionally. But the most important thing I got was a network of other young people who are also passionate about music and culture.”
In Sound & Light, the main subject Frederik chose, students are taught by professional sound and lighting technicians who work with venues like VEGA, Gimle and Pumpehuset, as well as large-scale productions like Roskilde Festival. In Music Management, students gain insight into how the Danish and international music industries operate, giving them a stronger foundation for navigating them on their own.
Frederik is a great example of how the teaching can plant seeds for the future. Since his time at the school, he’s toured with up-and-coming band UNG-SKAB and is now working with fellow young creatives to start his own record label.
The article continues below.
During his time at Roskilde Festival Højskole, Frederik helped organise several events. As part of Sound & Light and Music Management, students created a unique and intimate concert where the audience moved freely around the stage while music played, surrounded by striking video and light projections in the school’s raw and atmospheric hall.
Festival production is a regular part of the academic year. In the autumn, the school contributes to organising the knowledge festival GRASP, which takes place in Musicon – the same creative district where the school is located. At the end of the term, students also create their own festival, Ømme Dage.
For the spring term, students and staff work together to create projects for Roskilde Festival itself. This year, for example, they’ve designed the Common Ground area and run their own programme on their own stage at the festival.
About Roskilde Festival Højskole
Roskilde Festival Højskole is a Danish folk high school located in the creative district of Musicon in Roskilde. The school opened in January 2019 and offers 4–6-month courses with a focus on art, culture and community.
Students choose one of five main subjects – music, event management, music management, sound & light or visual arts – and can dive into a wide range of additional elective subjects. Teaching is based on strong academic foundations, hands-on project work, and close ties to the real world – without exams and with plenty of room for personal growth.
Roskilde Festival Højskole has a unique partnership with Roskilde Festival, constantly developing new formats and projects at the intersection of art, society and education.
At a Danish folk high school, there are no entry requirements, no curriculum and no exams. Teaching is created through shared curiosity and engagement between teachers and students. This makes it easy to tailor the experience to each individual’s needs and level.
At Roskilde Festival Højskole, you design your own timetable with main and elective subjects in music, art, event production, design and media. There’s something for every curious and creative young person.
Another special feature of the school is the strong sense of community. Students live together and create a shared life as young adults. As Frederik puts it:
“What I miss most about the school is definitely the community and the little bubble you live in. It’s weird not to have that when you return home. But I now have a bunch of close friends from the school who I’m still in touch with.”
