The 2019 semifinalists are announced

After two days of preliminary rounds, 33 brilliant singers have been reduced to 12 semifinalists.

– The quality is extremely high this year. As a jury member your heart leaps when you hear yet another great voice, and then slightly sinks when you realise final decisions will be hard. If things are tough for the jury right from the preliminary rounds that means it is already shaping up to be a great competition, said Jury Chair Annilese Miskimmon.

These are the semifinalists in the Queen Sonja International Music Competition 2019, presented in the order of performance this Sunday:

1) Astrid Nordstad Mezzo-Soprano Norway
2) Meigui Zhang Soprano China
3) Natalia Tanasii Soprano Moldova
4) Sergey Kaydalov Baritone Russia
5) Emily Pogolrec Soprano USA
6) Adam Kutny Baritone Poland
7) Julia Muzychenko Soprano Russia
8) Josy Santos Mezzo-Soprano Brazil
9) Zachariah Njoroge Kariithi Baritone Kenya
10) Stefan Astakhov Baritone Germany
11) Theodore Browne Tenor Germany
12) Felicia Moore Soprano USA

The semifinal is held in the Lindeman Concert Hall at the Norwegian Academy of Music, from 1.00 pm to 6.20 pm, Sunday 18 August. The contestants will sing in three groups, where all are streamed live on YouTube and Facebook.

13.00 – 14.20
15.00 – 16.20
17.00 – 18.20

The concert programme, including repertoire, is available here.