Young Artists’ Concert

Jun 26

Who: The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

What: A concert for young artists

Where: Bergen

Project period: 2023

Web: The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Goal:

The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra has a long tradition for presenting young talents, and De Unges Konsert – Young Artists’ Concert – has been arranged every year since 1938. Our goal is to give young musicians who study classical music on a high level in Norway, the unique possibility to perform with a professional philharmonic orchestra.

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is committed to educate and play an active role in the development of talent and competence in the field of classical music, and our Young Artists’ Concert is vital for us in that sense.

The Project:

Every student of classical music in Norway, independent of nationality, were invited to apply for the auditions. For the first round, applicants were invited to send us a video recording with the piece each of them wanted to perform at the concert. 72 young musicians sent their recordings to our jury, consisting of four musicians in the orchestra. The fifteen best candidates were then invited to an audition in Bergen 24 February. The jury then made their final decision after the audition and invited the five best candidates to the concert itself, which took place in Grieghallen, Bergen, Thursday 13 April.

Hanne Marit Mordal Iversen, soprano

These five:

Jaroslav Letiagin, marimba

Hanne Marit Mordal Iversen, soprano

Triinu Piirsalu, violin

Maria Oftestad, trombone

Annika Synnøve Beinnes, soprano

Triinu Piirsalu, violin

The five soloists stayed in Bergen the whole concert week and got a unique opportunity to rehearse with the orchestra and meet our musicians until the concert on Thursday. It was an intense week, and we believe that the young talents find it useful and beneficial to their career. For a young musician it is extremely important, but few opportunities, to perform with a professional orchestra in front of an audience. The concert was a great success, and everyone who took part as soloist received a scholarship from The Grieg Foundation. The audience, 981, also voted, and the winner received a special audience prize.

Maria Oftestad, trombone

A commitment to develop talent

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra has an extensive program for children and young people, from family concerts, which are arranged regularly every season, to pedagogical projects (Bli inspirert!) involving schools in Bergen and the surrounding area. We have also established our own youth ensemble, Bergen Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, numbering ca. 100 musicians.