Villads Littauer Bendixen (Denmark) is a Danish violinist and composer (b. 2001) with an international background. He grew up between Denmark and Germany and moved to Berlin as a child, where he studied at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler. After further studies at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo, he is now affiliated with the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where he studies violin with Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider and Peter Herresthal, while also receiving composition instruction from Bent Sørensen.
As both a performer and composer, he has distinguished himself through prize-winning competitions, premieres of his own works, and concerts across Europe, the United States, and Greenland. He has received awards in competitions including DR’s televised competition Vidunderbørn, Berlingske Tidende’s Classical Music Competition, Hungarian Games in Budapest, and Jugend Musiziert in Germany. In recent years, several of his compositions have been premiered at festivals and concert venues in Denmark and Poland, and his interest in contemporary music is reflected in both his creative and performing activities.
Villads is also an active educator and has taught at international music courses in Sweden, Denmark, Poland, and Norway, including at Valdres sommersymfoni, where he has also served as a performing orchestral leader. Chamber music plays a central role in his work, particularly through the piano trio Trio Lingo, which has received awards and recognition for its artistic achievements.
Villads explains that his experiences at Valdres sommersymfoni in 2023 left a strong impression on him. He was inspired by “the inspiring atmosphere, the unique location, and the high musical standard” and is applying to Papillon because he wishes to continue developing within the creative environment that the festival represents. With a particular focus on chamber music, he looks forward to “expanding my musical horizons” alongside the programme’s musicians. He also highlights Alf Richard Kraggerud as one of the most important sources of inspiration in his musical development and looks forward to the opportunity to collaborate with him again through the programme.