Polstjärnepriset 2024 reaches new heights
A large audience, 22 contestants, 700 lessons, 40 course participants, 2 rounds of competition and a grand finale with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Polstjärnepriset 2024 was a fantastic success, not only in terms of numbers but above all musically.
2-5 November 2023
Already in early November, young musicians from all over the country and from Norway gathered to play music together and receive lessons from fantastic instructors. What is unique about Polstjärnepriset, is that there is a course alongside the competition with lessons, ensemble playing and concerts. It was a week filled with 400 lessons and new friendships. Polstjärnepriset’s ‘Autumn Festival’ also took place in November. It consisted of two concerts of chamber music, soloists and a special concert with last year’s winner, cellist Inez Karlsson.
2 January – The competition begins
2 January was the first day of the competition. The 22 contestants (who introduce themselves here in their presentation films) played for the jury, and 8 of all the promising young soloists were selected to compete in the semi-finals.
- Maya Broman Crawford-Phillips, Enskede (violin)
- Philip Engström, Gothenburg (cello)
- Love Herrdahl, Skarpnäck (piano)
- Christian Iourtchik, Växjö (violin)
- Rakel Simonsson, Stockholm (clarinet)
- Hugo Svedberg, Bournemouth, UK (cello)
- Ludvig Walter, Linghem (cello)
- Elias Xie, Umeå (piano)
3 January – Semi-final
The semi-final of Polstjärnepriset took place on 3 January. You can (re)experience the semi-final here! All eight semi-finalists showed the audience their absolute best. After a tension-filled break, during which the jury retired to deliberate, the four finalists were announced. Click on their names to see their performances during the semi-final.
Concerts – 4 January
On 4 January, it was time to treat the people of Vänersborg to great music by the Polstjärnepriset participants. First there was a chamber music concert in Folkets Hus where the musicians played in ensembles and as soloists. Then there was a concert in Vänersborg Church with the entire Polstjärnepriset Symphony Orchestra, a string orchestra and a wind ensemble. Mussorgsky’s Baba Yaga and The Great Gate from Pictures at an Exhibition even included an organ, which together with the orchestra filled the entire church with incredibly beautiful sounds.
Final – 6 January
Polstjärnepriset 2024 drew to a close and all the musicians travelled to Gothenburg for the grand finale at the Gothenburg Concert Hall.
The four finalists each played a solo with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, after which it was time for the jury to meet to select the winner and the prize winners. After the break, the audience was first treated to a performance by the Polstjärnepriset Symphony Orchestra with conductor Andreas Patrik Hansson, side by side with the musicians of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
Then it was time for the jury’s representatives, Rickard Gateau and Camilla Lundberg, to come on stage and announce the jury’s decision: the winner of Polstjärnepriset 2024 is Hugo Svedberg!
The jury’s motivation reads: “Hugo is a young master with a powerful tone. He has an obvious soloist understanding, musical intelligence and sincerity.”
- 1st place (SEK 50 000): Hugo Svedberg, cello
- 2nd place (SEK 10 000): Elias Xie, piano
- 3rd place (SEK 5 000): Maya Broman Crawford-Phillips, violin
- 4th place (SEK 5 000): Philip Engström, cello
We would like to thank all participants, jury members, instructors and staff who took part in Polstjärnepriset 2024, as well as ‘Intea fastigheter’ who provided the prize money.
