Talent Norway Announces New Orchestra Partners

The organization has partnered with the Oslo Philharmonic and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra 

Talent Norway (Talent Norge) was founded in 2015 in partnership with independent philanthropic foundations, aiming at world-class talent development within the art field.

Initiated by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Equality, the organization assists talented performers to fulfill their full potential and build professional careers

Alongside Norway’s Oslo Philharmonic and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (RSPO) in Sweden, Talent Norway has launched a forum that will now include masterclasses by the partner orchestra’s conductors, Klaus Mäkelä and Sakari Oramo.

Based on Norway’s conductors’ program “Dirigentløftet,” the Nordic Conductors’ Forum aims to promote and develop Nordic conducting talents and to advance Nordic repertoire. 

To be held from November 9, 2023, to May 3, 2024, the forum is also seeking six emerging Nordic conductors aged 35 and under. The forum’s events will also serve as a networking space — connecting artists with industry professionals and the media.

Applications are available here and will close on June 10, 2023. Selected candidates will participate in masterclasses with Mäkelä at the Oslo Concert Hall and Oramo at the Stockholm Concert Hall.

“The Oslo Philharmonic aims to be a driving force in the future of classical music,” said the orchestra’s head of artistic planning, Alex Taylor. “An essential element of this is to encourage and provide opportunities for new talent through a range of different projects and programmes. 

“This new initiative under the umbrella of Dirigentløftet is a wonderful way for us to get to know talented young conductors and give them invaluable experience with the orchestra and our chief conductor Klaus Mäkelä.”“The [RSPO] is at the forefront of the classical music world,” added RSPO program director Fredrik Andersson.

“An important part for us is our school concerts and our orchestra academy, and being part of the training of young conductors is a natural step for us. Therefore, we are happy to be part of the Nordic Conductors Forum and Difrigentlöftet together with our honorary conductor Sakari Oramo.”