Guro Kleven Hagen - this year's winner of the Statoil talent scholarship in classical music. (Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland)
The scholarship is part of Statoil's Heroes of Tomorrow talent programme, through which Statoil supports young performers in education, sports and culture. The classical music scholarship is worth NOK 1 million.
Guro Kleven Hagen from Valdres started playing when she was five. Two years later, she enrolled in the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo, where she has completed a bachelor's degree and is in her second year of the master's degree programme.
Over the last two years, she has also studied with Professor Antje Weithaas at Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, and she has already made her mark internationally.
"Skill beyond doubt"
Jury chair Leif Ove Andsnes was impressed by the quality of all the nominees for this year's scholarship, and explains what made them pick Guro:
"Guro Kleven Hagen is a musician who, in spite of her youth, is already a household name in Norway. Her violin skills are beyond doubt and there is a fascinating poetry to her performances. Kleven Hagen is an exceedingly thorough, serious and hard-working musician in continuous development, both as a soloist and as a chamber musician. Audiences are easily impressed and affected by her presence on stage, as we feel certain that we will hear a lot from her in the coming years, on stages both domestic and foreign," says jury chair Leif Ove Andsnes.
Dreaming of making a living from her music
The young violinist came second in the Eurovision Young Musicians contest in Vienna in 2010, and made her debut with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra in spring 2011.
Next year will see the launch of her first CD, playing violin concertos by Bruch and Prokofiev with the Oslo Philharmonic. The Valdres girl has also played with several other orchestras, including the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra and the Karelia Opera Orchestra in Russia.
"I hope to be able to make a living from music and am now in a phase where I am making several intentional choices to realise that ambition. Over the last few years, I have been given the opportunity to play an increasing number of concerts, both at home and abroad, and I see this as an indication that my dream of becoming an established musician may have come closer to fruition," says this year's scholarship recipient.
Promoting classical talents
Statoil's Heroes of Tomorrow talent programme is all about promoting people with the ability and will to think outside the box, people who have the skills and stamina to work hard towards outstanding results.
"Statoil wants to stimulate talent development in education, sports and culture. We want this scholarship to demonstrate that our commitment also extends to our classical music talents. This award is our way of wishing Guro all the best," says Marius Rosenberg Amundsen, head of sponsoring in Statoil.
The winner was selected by an independent jury and announced on 25 November 2013 during Statoil's annual autumn concert.
The members of the jury for the classical music scholarship are Tine Thing Helseth, Randi Stene, Peter Herresthal, Rolf Lennart Stensø and Per Boye Hansen, in addition to chair Leif Ove Andsnes.
Previous recipients of the classical music scholarship include Ole Edvard Antonsen, Mari Eriksmoen, Henning Kraggerud, Eldbjørg Hemsing Christian Ihle Hadland, Vilde Frang Bjærke and current jury chair Leif Ove Andsnes.
For more information, contact:
Marius Rosenberg Amundsen
m: +47 93402305
e: amur@statoil.com
Guro Kleven Hagen was awarded the talent scholarship by Statoil communications director Reidar Gjærum (left) and chief executive Helge Lund. (Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland)