Review of the Ungdommens Musikkmesterskap (Norwegian Music Competition for Youth) 2011

19.12.2011

The Ungdommens Musikkmesterskap (Norwegian Music Competition for Youth) was held successfully from 25th - 27th November 2011 at the Music Academy in Oslo (Norway).

This year's competition was organised by the Norwegian Music Teachers Organisation, the Norwegian Music Council for Music schools and the Norwegian Association of Brass Bands. The participants of the competition could compete in following categories: piano, wind instruments and percussion (all solo), as well as duo and ensembles.

The Trio Patetico became overall winner of the competition receiving 50.000 NOK and the title 'Musician of the year'. The EMCY Prize went to the 16-year-old saxophonist Håvard Salvesen Njølstad. Six additional 'Inspiration prizes' in the amount of 10.000 NOK each were awarded to following participants:			Trio Patetico
Harald Ramm Haugland (piano) Eirik Haug Stømner (piano) Rondokvartetten (string quartet - Njord K. Fossnes, Katinka Nilssen, Alfred Wang, Maja Barratt-Due) Nora Hannisdal (horn) Håkon og Martin (percussion – Håkon T. Skjaeret, Martin Liahagen) Sigvald Ulstein Fersum (percussion)				Håkon og Martin

The composer and conductor Dr. Joseph Vella visited the competition as guest of honour. He is the director of Victoria International Arts Festival at Gozo (Malta) where Norwegian prize winners have given concerts for seven years in a row up to now.

On Saturday evening the competition was enriched by a European Concert performed by the 18-year-old Spanish guitarist Isabel Maria Sanchez Millan, the last year’s ‘Musician of the year’ Miriam Helms Ålien (violin) and Jørgen Lund Karlsen (saxophone).

The competition was rounded off by a prize winner concert on Sunday at 15.00 broadcasted by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).