Violinist, violist, or cellist under 32 years old? Then you can apply to join the mentoring programme Classical link!
With Classical link, the Bergen International Festival and cellist Amalie Stalheim wish to create a link between classical traditions and newer expressions. Stalheim often commissions new works for cello and collaborates closely with their composers. She has garnered valuable knowledge about collaborations on new works, on being a musician and on how to collate programmes which bridge the gap between the past and present.
The Bergen International Festival is a creative meeting place for both composers and musicians, and an important international arena for performances of new works.
In 2023, Amalie Stalheim initiated a mentoring programme for young string players. The Festival wished to contribute and connected the programme with a talent initiative for young composers.
In order to increase the musicians' skills on their way to a professional career, the Classical link programme offers open masterclasses, where the participants work with concerts that include both new and older repertoire.
The finale will be a concert in the University Aula and where the audience will be the first to experience the music to be created and played by young, up-and-coming composers and musicians.
The programme will take place during the Bergen International Festival, between 20 and 25 May 2025, and three young musicians will be selected for the 2025 edition of Classical link.
Who can apply?
Classical musicians under 32 years old playing the following instruments:
Violin
Viola
Cello
The application should include:
An unedited video recording of two works. Self-selected repertoire, ideally from two different periods/styles. The two works can be in two separate video files.
CV
It is important that the recordings are of good quality. Video files should be uploaded to YouTube or similar cloud services and linked in the application form. Any passwords for accessing video files must be provided, and links must be valid at least until the end of February 2025.
Selected participants will receive:
Masterclasses with a mentor on solo works (open to the public)
Masterclasses on chamber music works (open to the public)
A review of selected works with the composers present (closed to the public)
A seminar and discussion on mental preparation, concert preparation, idea development, freelancing, application processes, and grant applications (closed to the public)
A concert in the University Aula in Bergen during the Bergen International Festival 2025 (open to the public).
The Bergen International Festival covers travel, meals, and accommodation for participants during the project period, and a fee for the concert.
Application deadline: 10 November 2024
Questions? Contact project coordinator Maria Eikefet at mariae@fib.no / +47 909 57 605.
