Ellen Nisbeth wins Norwegian Soloist Prize

Thursday 30 May 2013

RCM violist Ellen Nisbeth has been awarded the Norwegian Soloist Prize 2013.

Swedish viola player Ellen was one of five outstanding musicians from all the Nordic countries competing in the Final, which took place at the Bergen International Festival on Sunday 26 May and broadcast live on Norwegian public TV and radio. Each candidate was nominated for the Prize by the foremost symphony orchestra of each Nordic country.

Following Ellen’s recital of works by Hindemith, Bruch, Nordheim, Grieg, Clarke and Paganini, the Jury – which included international trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth – were unanimous in their decision to award her the top Prize of 100,000 NOK (over £11,000). Anders Beyer, Chairman of the Jury and Director of the Bergen International Festival, announced:

​“The violist Ellen Nisbeth performs with a natural integrity and stage presence. With sensational musicality and personal expression, she enchants the audience. The variation in tone colour seems endless in Ellen Nisbeth’s play, and she is able to communicate the most intimate nuances to the audience, who cannot remain unmoved by the performance. The jury was particularly impressed with Ellen Nisbeth’s musical authority and charm, her technical mastery of the instrument and the heavenly beautiful tone.”

Ellen is currently studying for an Artist Diploma in Performance at the RCM. You can watch a clip of her winning performance on YouTube