Born in Stavanger, Norway, Sarah Jessica Stampe Nielsen began playing the double bass at the age of 13 with Bjørn Nilssen at Stavanger Kulturskole. In 2021, she started her Bachelor studies at Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg with Prof. Dorin Marc and Prof. Michail-Pavlos Semsis. Since 2024, she has been continuing her studies at Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin with Prof. Esko Laine and Dr. Janusz Widzyk.
Sarah first gained orchestral experience through a talent program with Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and in youth orchestras such as Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, Norwegian National Youth Orchestra, Ung Filharmoni and Bergen Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She has also worked as a substitute in Staatskapelle Berlin, Staatsoper Stuttgart, and Nürnberger Symphoniker. In the 2024/25 season, she has a one-year contract with Staatskapelle Berlin.
Sarah has won multiple 1st prizes in Ungdommens Musikkmesterskap (Norwegian Music Competition for Youth) and was awarded the EMCY Prize in the 2025 final. That same year, she performed as a soloist with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, where she received a scholarship from the Grieg Foundation and won the audience award. She also secured 1st prize at the I. Grunewald International Music Competition 2024, leading to a solo performance with the Geringas Chamber Orchestra. In addition, she won the International Competition Note di Talento in Atri, Italy. Her achievements have been further recognized through scholarships from Drømmestipendet and Tom Wilhelmsen’s Stiftelse.
If you are interested in working with Sarah Jessica Stampe Nielsen, please get in touch with the EMCY Office.
Solo:
J. S. Bach, Cellosuite No. 1
H. Fryba, Suite in the olden style
M. Gajdoš, Preludium and Fugue in A minor
T. Hauta-aho, Kadenza
E. Tabakov, Motivy
With piano:
J. S. Bach, Sonata No. 2 in D major, S. 1028
H. Eccles, Sonata in G minor
J. Haydn, Divertimento in D major
F. Schubert, Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D. 821
A. Míšek, Sonata No. 2, Op. 6
G. Bottesini, Reverie
G. Bottesini, Elegia in D major (Nr. 1)
G. Bottesini, Elegie e minor (Nr. 3)
G. Bottesini, Tarantella
G. Bottesini, Fantasia „La Sonnambula“
G. Bottesini, Capriccio di Bravura
G. Bottesini, Allegro di Concerto „Alla Mendelssohn“
S. Koussevitzky, Valse Miniature Op. 1, No. 2
R. Glière, 4 Pieces, Op. 32 and Op. 9
Chamber music:
F. Schubert, Trout Quintet in A major, D. 667
G. Bottesini, Grand Duo Concertante
A. Dvořák, String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 77
S. Prokofiev, Quintet in G minor, Op. 39
K. Penderecki, Duo Concertante for Violin and Double Bass
With orchestra:
C. D. Dittersdorf, Concerto No. 2 in D major
J. B. Vanhal, Concerto in D major
F. A. Hoffmeister, Concerto Nr. 1 in D major
G. Bottesini, Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor
G. Bottesini, Concerto No. 2 in B minor
S. Koussevitzky, Concerto Opus 3
N. Rota, Divertimento Concertante
