What is the Carl Nielsen Competition?

An international competition for instrumentalists under the age of thirty. It is one of the most prestigious competitions for young soloists in the world, alternating between competitions for violinists, flautists and clarinettists. The Odense Symphony Orchestra is the house orchestra for the competition.

The 2016 competition is the tenth of its kind.

What are the aims of the competition?

To further the career prospects of the young competitors and to promote public awareness of classical music as a whole.

Who can take part?

The competition is open to violinists under the age of thirty. Our contestants come from all over the world

This year 23 contestants have been selected: 17 women and seven men, aged from 17 to 29. Two of them come from Denmark.

Where does it take place?

Odense Koncerthus, Claus Bergs Gade, Odense, Denmark

Every round of the competition is open to the general public either in the concert hall or via video webcast at dr.dk/carlnielsen2016.

What are the prizes?

Six prizes are awarded:

First Prize: €12,000, a recording contract with Orchid Classics worth €13,000, and at least ten concerts with orchestras in Scandinavia and the rest of Europe.

2nd Prize: €10,000

3rd Prize: €8,000

Best Danish Interpretation (of a new piece by Danish composer Jesper Koch) €2,000

The Odense Symphony Orchestra Prize: €1,500

Children’s Jury Prize: €1,500

What do they have to do?

The contestants will be judged on their performances of the most important works in the violin cannon. They must play the works by heart (apart from new compositions or works with piano accompaniment).

The finalists must all play Carl Nielsen’s Violin Concerto.

Who organises the competition?

The Odense Symphony Orchestra and the Municipality of Odense.

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II is the competition’s patron.

Violinist Nikolaj Znaider is Jury President this year. He won 1st Prize in 1992 at the age of sixteen.

The remainder of the jury are also internationally acclaimed violinists.

Why Carl Nielsen?

Carl Nielsen was born in Nr Lyndelse a few kilometres south of Odense. The Carl Nielsen Museum is adjacent to Odense Koncerthus, home of the Odense Symphony Orchestra.

Why the violin, flute and clarinet?

The competition started with the violin but expanded to include variations for flute and clarinet, as Carl Nielsen wrote concertos for all three of these instruments: a violin concerto, a clarinet concerto and a flute concerto. For the

finalists, playing the concertos is always compulsory.

When is the next competition?

In 2018. The 2018 Carl Nielsen Competition will be a combined flute and clarinet competition.