From August 3 to 10, 2025, Norsk Ungdomssymfoniorkester (NUSO), the Norwegian Youth Symphony Orchestra Summer Camp, was held in Kristiansand, Norway.
Two young musicians from Japan participated in the program, and we are pleased to share their reports below.

For further information, please also refer to the official website:
https://www.nuso.no/aktuelt/nuso-aret-2025

Report from Violin Participant (K. K.)

On the first day after arriving in Kristiansand, there was a welcome gathering for all participants. Even though I did not understand Norwegian, there were fun icebreaker activities that helped us connect beyond language differences, and I was able to relax and get to know everyone naturally.

During the first rehearsal, the conductor gave instructions in Norwegian, so at first it was difficult for me to follow what was going on. However, the people around me kindly supported me in English, which made me feel very reassured.

Everyone at NUSO was very friendly and open, and they were all great at communicating with each other. Not only during rehearsals, but also in our rooms after rehearsal and during meals, many people reached out to me, and even in such a short time, I was able to build meaningful connections.

Musically, there were moments when things did not go as I had hoped before the performance. However, as the days went by, we gradually became more in sync, and the whole orchestra started to come together.

On the day of the concert, I felt that we were able to fully demonstrate what we had worked on and deliver a powerful and energetic performance to the audience.

Even though we spoke different languages, I felt a strong sense of unity with the other musicians and the conductor through music. That moment was very moving and became an unforgettable experience for me.

I would like to apply what I learned in Norway not only to my musical activities but also to other areas of my life. By sharing this experience with the members of my orchestra, I hope to inspire them to think, “I want to perform and connect with people abroad as well.”

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Report from Cello Participant (J. K.)

I took part in this program as an exchange participant from TYOC.

The journey from Japan, including transit, took about 24 hours, and with a seven-hour time difference, spending a week at the camp was a mix of excitement and uncertainty for me.

What I felt most strongly during this camp was that music truly transcends language.

As is also the case with TYOC, orchestral rehearsals are conducted in the local language, in this case Norwegian. At first, I could hardly understand anything at all. I did not know what the conductor was saying or what kind of sound the conductor wanted. However, as rehearsals went on, I began to understand more through gestures, facial expressions, and the overall atmosphere.

In addition, my stand partners kindly translated things into English for me and helped me know where to come back in when the music stopped. Thanks to their support, I was able to enjoy playing without any difficulties. Even with my limited English, I was able to have conversations and laugh together with others, which made the experience even more special.

One of the biggest differences I noticed between this camp and TYOC was how the schedule was organized.

At TYOC, the program is mainly built around three elements: rehearsals, meals and rest, and sleep. In contrast, this camp in Norway had a much more relaxed timetable. There was time to talk and connect with roommates, as well as time to play volleyball or football after dinner.

Through this experience, I realized that the way time is structured can greatly influence how deeply people connect with each other. Of course, cultural differences play a role, but I also felt that in Japan we may be too bound by time. I hope we can create more opportunities to share time together, so that we can enjoy making music even more!