Göteborgs Konserthus Polar Star Prize Final

Event has already taken place

Get ready for a nerve-wracking afternoon in Gothenburg Concert Hall when the four finalists, the Nordic region’s foremost young soloists aged 14-18, perform with the Gothenburg Symphony and compete for the Polstjärnepriset (the Polar star prize). After three rounds of competition, we will get an answer to the question – who will be this year’s winner?

In 2023, the Polstjärnepriset will be held for the first time as a Nordic Edition for young musicians from all over the Nordics and will become a prestigious international competition.

The finalists

Waldemar Wenzel Most piano, Denmark
MGK Hovedstaden – Københavns Musikskole
”I started playing the piano at age 4. It was love at first sight! Later I have played the cello, I have sung in the Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir and I have performed as one of the three boys in Mozarts Magic Flute at the Royal Danish Opera. I believe that all these experiences has made me the musician I am today.” 

Clara Yuna Friedensburg cello, Norway
Barratt Due Musikkinstitutt, Oslo
”I love the sound of the cello. For me, the cello is the instrument that most closely resembles the human voice, from a rich bass to a bright soprano. If I can make the audience feel the cooperation between that voice and my interpretation of the music, then I would be very happy and feel that I have achieved my goal as a musician.”

Pekko Aakko fagott, Finland
Helsinki Conservatory of Music and in the youth department of Mannheim university of music and performing arts
”My main instrument is bassoon but I also play the piano. I grew up in a family of musicians and have always loved performing. I started playing the bassoon at 13 years, since I wanted to play in an orchestra and my mother’s colleague offered me lessons. In my opinion, the warmth of the bassoon suits me quite well.”

Inez Karlsson cello, Sweden
Royal College of Music Junior Department, London
”I have played the cello since I was 6 years old. At the moment I study with Michal Kaznowski at the Royal College of Music in London. I often rehearse with my sister, who plays the violin. I love to perform, both as a soloist and in ensembles. I enjoy playing the cello so much because of its likeness to a human voice and the variety of warm colours it can create, and the way it connects to other instruments.

About Polstjärnepriset

Polstjärnepriset is more than a competition. During the autumn holidays, over 70 competition and course participants gather in Vänersborg to play together in ensembles and orchestras and refine the solo repertoire together with musicians from, among others, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra as well as professors and pedagogues from music colleges and talent centers in Sweden and the rest of Europe. The next time everyone will meet again in Vänersborg is the 1st week of January. Then the focus is on the competition moments but also on preparations for the Polstjärnepriset’s festival concerts in Vänersborg, Gothenburg and Oslo.

In Gothenburg, the young musicians play Brahms’s Fourth Symphony side by side with the Gothenburg Symphony as a festive prelude to the award ceremony when the winner will finally be crowned.

The final is livestreamed

If you don’t have the opportunity to come to Gothenburg’s Concert Hall, you can watch the live broadcast of the final on GSOplay.