Polstjärnepriset 2023

Polstjärnepriset – Polar Star Competition has been held in Vänersborg every year since 2007. For the 2023 edition, young musicians from all Nordic countries are eligible for the competition.

The competition is divided into two periods, November 3-6 2022 and January 1-6 2023. The semi-final takes place on 3 January in Vänersborg. The final will be held on 5 January at Gothenburg concert hall. (Göteborgs Konserthus). Eligible for the competition are musicians born 2004-2008, playing one of the standard classical orchestral instruments including piano. Organ, guitar, accordion and percussion are excluded from the competition. The jury selects the competition participants from all over the nordics, ensuring a wide national diversity of candidates.

What Polstjärnepriset offers you?

• the chance to win prizes and opportunities of prestigious performances
• valuable credentials for your resumé and your career
• lessons, master classes and ensemble teaching by eminent educators and valuable feedback from the Polstjärnepriset jury
• to play together with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. If you reach the final you will be accompanied by the orchestra.
• to play, develop and perform together with 80 of the Nordic region’s foremost young musicians, including during the Polstjärnepriset Festival
• to have the opportunity to meet a large audience (on site and online) and raise your profile in the press and other important compartment media
• to raise your level further through your own competition preparations
• to prepare for the challenges of the music profession, such as auditions and the preparations of the auditions and concerts

The content of the Polstjärnepriset course days

During the Polstjärnepriset period in November, the competition focuses on development, inspiration and preparation. The musicians will get individual lessons and have the chance to play together with the other participants. Most participants also perform during the festival concerts in Vänersborg.

During the first week of January, from the first round, eight participants will be chosen for the semi-finals, which are held as a public concert in Vänersborg. All participants who do not progress to the semi-finals receive feedback and lessons from the jury. They also continue to play in ensembles and orchestras in the Polstjärnepriset course, participating in performances and the Polstjärnepriset concerts during the Polstjärnepriset Festival in Vänersborg, Gothenburg and a capital in the Nordic countries. At the semi-final, the jury selects four finalists who will play their final performance at the Gothenburg Concert Hall together with Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. At the final, the jury chooses the winner and nominates the other prize-winners.

On January 6, the winner will be introduced at the Polstjärnepriset Festival.

At the end of August 2023, all the Polstjärnepriset participants including the winner meet up in Stockholm, to perform at the Baltic Sea Festival (Östersjöfestivalen), one of the largest festivals in the Nordic region.