The Competition Through the Years

1988
The opening of the Crown Princess Sonja International Music Competition, for pianists

1992
New name: the Queen Sonja International Music Competition, for pianists

1995
Kirsten Flagstad centenary: the first competition for singers, held every two years

1999 – 2007
National competitions held in Stavanger, Trondheim and Bergen

Measha Brueggergosman (soprano, Canada), Second Prize winner and awarded the Troldhaugen Grieg Prize in the 2003 Competition

2005
’10 Years Song’: previous prize winners’ concert with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra at the Royal Palace. Four sopranos: Akie Amou (Japan), Virginia Tola (Argentina), Marita Sølberg (Norway) and Olga Mykytenko (Ukraine). Conductor: Rolf Gupta

Marita Sølberg (soprano, Norway) performing at the Royal Palace, 2005

2007

Commissioned works by four Nordic composers for the semi-final: Bent Sørensen (Denmark), Hans Gefors (Sweden), Thurídur Jonsdottir (Iceland) and Veli-Matti Puumala (Finland)
Ouverture by Bjørn Kruse, commissioned work premiered at the final concert
The Ingrid Bjoner Scholarship established

2009

‘Come as you are’: the Competition repertoire rules were redefined
Semi-final and Final Concert in the new Opera House
The first masterclasses were established, directed by Catherine Malfitano and Sir Thomas Allen
Oscarshall Palace introduced as a concert arena, in collaboration with the Royal Court

2011

International opera academies introduced as new partners:
· Lindemann Young Artists Development Program, Metropolitan Opera, New York
· Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
· Bolshoi Opera Young Artists Program, Moscow
· The Opera Studio, Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich
· Internationales Opernstudio, Opernhaus Zürich
Prize-winner diplomas created by Her Majesty Queen Sonja
Touring project with three prize winners as soloists with the Arctic Symphony Orchestra: Bodø, Tromsø, Hammerfest and Alta

2012

‘New Voices’: a song festival in Oslo in August with seven prestigious prize winners
Concerts, masterclasses, debate and opera at the City Hall Plaza, the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet and the National Library

2013

Celebration of the competition’s 25th anniversary
‘Wagner Prelude’ by Jan Erik Mikalsen, commissioned work for the final concert
Extended Competition programme: Prize Winners’ concert with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra at the Kilden Concert Hall

Jury member Carol Vaness holds a masterclass during the 2013 Competition

2014

Donation towards the first prize received from Anders Sveeas’ charitable foundation
Concert hosted by H.M. Queen Sonja at Oscarshall Palace
Performance by Ingeborg Gillebo (mezzo-soprano, Norway, second prize winner 2011) at the Queen Sonja Print Award ceremony

2015
Concert at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia ‘Leading Young Opera Singers of the World’. A presentation of previous prize winners and singers from some of the competition’s collaborating International Young Artist Programmes

2017

Opera gala with seven prize winners at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen
Opera gala with eight prize winners at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia
Teatro alla Scala Academy Young Artists Program introduced as new partner

From the Prize Winner Concert at DR Koncerthuset in 2017

2019

Opera gala with up to eight prize winners at the Grieg Concert Hall in Bergen
Duets and evaluation of stage presence implemented as part of the final concert
Extended competition programme: Two vocal masterclasses and one masterclass in stagecraft. Career development session with opera directors, agents, and PR expertise

2021
Competition Covid 19-edition: Digital, live preliminary rounds and semi-final, live-streamed internationally. Live finale at the Grieg Hall in Bergen.

2022

Workshop developed by the competition and National Opera Studio, London for the Opera Academy, at Oslo National Academy of the Arts
Concert hosted by H.M. Queen Sonja at The Queen Sonja Art Stable
The foundation launches their new visual identity along with a new name: Queen Sonja Singing Competition

2023
New career development programme launched for young singing students in Norway: The Opera Academy