Norwegian Soloist Competition

Music & Culture

Jun 26

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. With funding from The Grieg Foundation, we invite young musicians who study in Norway to audition for the unique possibility to perform with a professional philharmonic orchestra.

Our Young Artists’ Concert started in 1938 and was in 2023 arranged for the 85th time. Since the beginning, the concert has presented the majority of Norway’s foremost international soloists in classical music. Nearly 600 young musicians have played with the orchestra during the years. You will find names like Truls Mørk, Henning Kraggerud, Einar Steen Nøkleberg, Tine Thing Helseth, Håvard Gimse, Vilde Frang, Tine Thing Helseth and Lise Davidsen on the long list of performers. This year performers were awarded with a scholarship from The Grieg Foundation.

The Bergen Philharmonic

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra's main task is to produce classical concerts at a high international level for a wide audience, from concerts and operas in Grieghallen to prestigious international festivals and concert halls, with world-class conductors and soloists. The current Chief Conductor is Edward Gardner. The orchestra, with status as Norwegian National Orchestra, also tours regionally and has an active cd-recording schedule. Several recordings have won international prizes and received critical acclaim. We do also run our own free streaming service, bergenphilive.no, which offers an extensive catalogue of concerts and works.

**Hanne Marit, Soprano**

«So much looking forward to this!»

A commitment to develop talent

We have 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. The orchestra performs regularly in Grieghallen, its musicians are coached by musicians in the Bergen Philharmonic, and they are also touring internationally. Quite a number of the young musicians do study music, and some of them have already qualified for work in professional orchestras. We do also have a special programme for young and aspiring Norwegian conductors.

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.

**Triinu Piirsalu, violin**

«I am truly so happy to receive this information! Of course, I will come and play the concert on 13th April and the rehearsal times suit for me!”

Young Artists’ Concert 2023

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 Thursday 13 April.

**Maria Oftestad, trombone**

«Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to take part in this concert! I am extremely grateful»

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.

Feedback from former participant, Trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth

It isn’t actually cheap what we are doing, so the scholarship came in very handy. For me it was the first time I got the opportunity to play at a concert with a big orchestra, and it was an experience I will never forget. The Young Artists’ Concert is not a competition, and I’m glad it isn’t. I do see that competitions can be important for your career if it goes well, but it doesn’t always. This particular concert is so important because it gives young musicians an understanding and feeling of how it is to stand in front of a big orchestra.