Polstjärnepriset

Polstjärnepriset 2024

A big congratulations to cellist Hugo Svedberg, the winner of the Polstjärnepriset 2024.

With the motto "More than a competition," the Polstjärnepriset is a unique initiative and a national meeting place for young talents in classical music. All four finalists in the 2024 Polstjärnepriset, as per tradition, performed their competition pieces together with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in front of an audience at the Gothenburg Concert Hall. "It was so much fun playing with the orchestra, and I’ve learned so much," says 15-year-old Hugo after the final.

Hugo has participated in competitions before and shares what he has discovered during the Polstjärnepriset. "In the Polstjärnepriset, you have the opportunity to play with a professional orchestra, which is very special. There are also many rounds in the competition, and you learn something each time."

The jury's statement reads: "Hugo is a young master with a powerful tone. He possesses a natural soloistic understanding, musical intelligence, and sincerity." Hugo Svedberg lives in Bournemouth, England. His father is Swedish, and Hugo often visits Sweden.

As the winner, Hugo Svedberg received 50,000 SEK. In addition, he will represent Sweden in Eurovision Young Musicians, Europe’s largest competition for young classical musicians, watched by millions of TV viewers across Europe. Second prize winner Elias Xie, a pianist, won 10,000 SEK. Third prize winner, violinist Maya Broman Crawford-Phillips, and fourth prize winner, cellist Philip Engström, each received 5,000 SEK.

Polstjärnepriset 2023

A big congratulations to cellist Inez Karlsson, the first-ever winner of the Nordic edition of the Polstjärnepriset!

The final, as usual, took place at the Gothenburg Concert Hall. All four finalists, following tradition, performed their competition pieces together with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. The jury's statement for the first prize reads: "An elegant musician with an extraordinary focus and a wonderful tone, possessing a strong and natural presence that touches the audience. A young musician who can go wherever she wants with her talent."

There are many powerful experiences that 15-year-old Inez carries with her from the competition at the Gothenburg Concert Hall.
– The most exciting and incredibly fun part was playing with a symphony orchestra in such a large and beautiful concert hall. It has been one of my dreams to do that. The sound on stage was absolutely amazing. Being a part of the different stages of the competition and meeting many young musicians from other countries has also been very exciting..

Inez Karlsson is a Swedish citizen, but she was born in England and lives in Surrey, south of London. Her father is Swedish, and the family has many connections with Sweden. Even Inez's cello teacher has numerous Swedish connections, and it was he who encouraged his student to participate in the Polstjärnepriset.

As the winner, Inez Karlsson receives 50,000 SEK. Second prize winner Pekko Aakko from Finland, who plays the bassoon, wins 10,000 SEK. Third prize winner, Danish pianist Valdemar Wenzel Most, and fourth prize winner, Norwegian cellist Clara Yuna Friedensburg, each receive 5,000 SEK.

Polstjärnepriset 2022

Trombonist Lukas Flink, 18, from Malmö, is the winner of Polstjärnepriset 2022. Intea says “Many congratulations!”

The final was held as usual in Gothenburg Concert Hall. All four finalists played their competition pieces with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. The jury's citation was:Polstjärnepriset 2022 is awarded to trombonist Lukas Flink for his expressive and moving artistry and his supreme mastery of the instrument.

– The standard of the young musicians in this year's Polstjärnepriset competition has been truly outstanding. The competition jury is highly experienced, but we still had the difficult task of selecting who would go on to the various stages of the finals and finally choosing a winner, says Stefan Forsberg, Chairman of the jury of Polstjärnepriset and CEO of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. He likens the investment in talented young musicians to what is done in sport, for example. Young talents are given opportunities early in life to take their skills to very high levels. Through the National Centre for Musical Talent, they regularly meet and are spurred on by other young musicians. Alongside their regular education programme, they also get to meet and practise with world-class instructors and musicians.

- Polstjärnepriset and the focus on talent development fill a gap. There is now a determined effort to find and develop young classical music talent. It creates hope for the future of a strong renaissance on the Swedish music scene, emphasises Stefan Forsberg.

First prize winner Lukas Flink received SEK 50,000. Second prize and SEK 10,000 went to double bassist Harald Edin from Styrsö. Third prize of SEK 5,000 was won by violinist Harry Dai Liang from Gothenburg and cellist Selma Sköld from Enskede received fourth prize, also SEK 5,000.

Polstjärnepriset 2021

The final of the Polstjärnepriset, a competition that allows young talents to develop in classical music, took place on May 29. Intea extends a big congratulations to pianist Vilhelm Moqvist!

Vilhelm Moqvist was named the winner for 2021 with the jury's statement: "A true virtuoso with great flair! The winner combines complete mastery of technique and tone color with impressive stylistic sensitivity." Intea, through Vänerparken in Vänersborg, has proudly sponsored the Polstjärnepriset for several years. In addition to the honor of winning Sweden's most prestigious competition for young classical musicians, the victory in the Polstjärnepriset also includes a cash prize of 50,000 SEK.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the final was held without an audience, but thanks to the Gothenburg Concert Hall, it was broadcast live. Despite the challenges of the past year, there seems to have been a positive development among the country’s young classical musicians.

"During the pandemic, we have seen a doubling in the number of course participants and a remarkable improvement in their playing quality. We have adapted our teaching by working exclusively online. Our students have been able to regularly connect with some of Europe's leading music professors and talent developers," says Ulrich Kaatz, competition manager and director of the National Center for Music Talents.

The second prize of 10,000 SEK went to Nicole Biegniewska, 18, violin. The third prize went to Harald Edin, 17, double bass, and the fourth prize went to Jael Caselunghe, 18, harp. Both Harald and Jael received 5,000 SEK each.

Polstjärnepriset 2020

The final of the Polstjärnepriset 2020 took place on January 5 at the Gothenburg Concert Hall. Clarinetist Tekla Nilsson, 17, from Lund, was named the winner with the jury's statement:"For superb mastery of the instrument with playful musicality and strong stage presence."”.

Tekla is the first clarinetist to win the Polstjärnepriset. In addition to the honor of winning Sweden's most prestigious competition for young classical musicians, the victory also includes a course at the National Center for Music Talents (NCM) and a cash prize of 50,000 SEK.

The second prize and a cash award of 10,000 SEK went to Harald Edin, 16, for double bass. The third prize and a cash award of 5,000 SEK went to Klara Borgqvist, 18, for oboe. The fourth place and a cash prize of 5,000 SEK were secured by Vilhelm Moqvist, 16, for piano. The finalists were accompanied by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Rumon Gamba. During the final concert, last year's winner, trumpeter Ture Herrgårdh, also performed Charlier Etude No. 2 "Du Style" for solo trumpet.

The Polstjärne Orchestra, consisting of the 80 competitors and course participants of the Polstjärnepriset, performed Stravinsky's *The Rite of Spring* Part 1 with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andreas P. Hansson.

Polstjärnepriset 2019

The Polstjärnepriset 2019 has a winner, congratulations to trumpeter Ture Herrgårdh, 18, from Mjölby.

Ture performed the winning piece on trumpet the first movement of H. Tomasi's Trumpet Concerto. As an encore, Ture performed J.S. Bach’s Flute Sonata in E-flat major, Second Movement (transcribed for trumpet). This year’s final was exciting, and the jury had the challenging task of ranking the competitors. The jury’s statement for the Polstjärnepriset 2019 reads: "A very beautiful tone and highly developed technical level on the instrument. He demonstrates a mature and reflective approach to playing with an impressive, focused stage presence. A very deserving winner."

– My winning year has been quite eventful so far. Many people have reached out to congratulate me and have been very kind. The victory has led to many opportunities to perform, and I feel that I have developed significantly., säger Ture.

The second prize went to Astrid Hillerud, 18, from Färentuna, who performed the third movement of A. Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor.
The third prize went to Josef Wijk, 18, from Örebro, who performed the first movement of R. Strauss’s Oboe Concerto in D major.
The fourth prize went to Harald Edin, 15, from Styrsö, who performed the second and third movements of S. Koussevitzky's Double Bass Concerto in E minor.

The prize amount of 70,000 SEK is distributed as follows: 50,000 SEK to the winner, 10,000 SEK to the second prize winner, and 5,000 SEK each to the third and fourth place winners. The prize money comes from Intea Vänersborg.