Our History

The Queen Sonja Singing Competition was founded in 1988. It was created to provide an international platform in Norway for young musicians and to raise global awareness of the Norwegian music scene. The competition is a collaboration between major Norwegian cultural institutions, including the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Held every two years, it attracts talented singers worldwide, most of whom have recently completed professional training and are starting their careers. Many past winners have gone on to achieve significant international success.

The first competition in 1988 was for pianists. In 1995, to honor Kirsten Flagstad’s 100th birth anniversary, the competition shifted focus exclusively to singers – a format that has remained popular ever since.