Queen Sonja Singing Competition

Prize winners achieve valuable exposure, significant cash prizes, important concert and opera engagements and assistance in developing their careers. Queen Sonja presents the award, including a print by Her Majesty, at the final concert. The prize winners have achieved engagements at most of the world's leading opera houses as results of their performances in Oslo.

In 2025, the competition took place from 15 to 22 August, marking 30 years of musical celebration.

Participants from all over the world

The participants in the competition are primarily newly trained singers at the beginning of their careers in opera and classical music. The upper age limit for contestants is 32 years of age. Prior to the competition in August 2025, 500 singers from 57 nations applied to participate.

In addition to first, second and third prize, a prize for the best interpretation of a "lied" is awarded, as well as Ingrid Bjoner's scholarship, which goes to the best Norwegian participant.

Organisation

The competition is run as a foundation and organised every other year with the collaboration of the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, the Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo National Academy of the Arts, the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Court.

International partners include Royal Opera House Covent Garden (London), Bayerische Staatsoper (Munich), Staatsoper Unter den Linden (Berlin), Metropolitan Opera (New York), Zurich Opera and Dutch National Opera (Amsterdam).

History

When the competition was established in 1988, it was for pianists. The aim was to create an international music arena that could showcase young musicians, and to give Norwegian soloists a chance to be considered on an international level.

For the centenary birth celebration of Norwegian opera singer Kirsten Flagstad in 1995, it was decided that only singers would compete. This was a success, and afterwards the the competition has been solely for singers. In 2023 the competition changed its name from Queen Sonja International Music Competition to Queen Sonja Singing Competition.