The Arctic University of Norway Announces New Professor of Violin 

Violinist Miriam Helms Ålien will assume the Associate Professor of Violin position at the university’s music conservatory as of January 1, 2023

The Musikkonservatoriet (Conservatory of Music) of the Arctic University of Norway (UiT) in Tromsø has welcomed Norwegian violinist Miriam Helms Ålien to its faculty beginning in 2023. 

Hailing from Alta, Norway, Ålien is a graduate of the Kronberg Academy, Hochschule für Musik in Munich, Berlin’s Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler,” and the Barratt Due Institute for Music in Oslo. She has studied with Ana Chumachenco, Tabea Zimmermann, Ulf Wallin, Stephan Barratt-Due, Alf Richard, and Henning Kraggerud. 

“Miriam is today considered one of the most exciting artists in Norwegian music life, and we at the Music Conservatory are both happy and proud to have her join our line of talented employees,” the Musikkonservatoriet posted on Facebook.

Since making her solo debut at age eight, she has performed with orchestras including the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Israeli Netanya Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice, Tromsø Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Camerata, and more.

Alongside her new teaching role, Ålien will also maintain a varied performing career with upcoming concerts including chamber music at the Liszt Academy, Berlin Konzerthaus, and the annual FESTIVALTA — of which she is the founder and artistic director.

Her various accolades include the 2012 Princess Astrid Music Prize, first prize at the Kocian Violin Competition, the Grand Prix Laureate, EMCY Prize, and Bärenreiter Prize. In 2010, she was named Norway’s “Young Musician of the Year.” 

“I am looking forward to building and further developing a violin class that the whole of Northern Norway can be proud of…[and to succeed] Atle Sponberg and Malfred,” she said of starting her new role.

Ålien plays on the 1689 “Ragin” Stradivarius violin, generously on loan from the Anders Sveaas’ Charitable Foundation.