Princess Astrid International Music Competition

The Princess Astrid International Music Competition was established in 1953 as a national competition for solo instrumentalists. Since 2012, the event has alternated between violinists and conductors. In 2014 it was decided that the competition would be held every second year, alternating with the Queen Sonja International Music Competition. The event is organised by the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, and it was Finn Audun Oftedal, the orchestra’s conductor at the time, who took the initiative to introduce the prize. Pianist Kjell Bækkelund was the first to win the competition, followed by violinist Arve Tellefsen in 1956. Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner is the Royal patron of the competition.