Eric Ericson Award, the world’s most prestigious competition for young choir conductors, will be held in 2021

The Swedish Radio, in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), reinstates the Eric Ericson Award, an international competition for young choir conductors. The competition will take place in October 2021 in the Swedish Radio concert hall, Berwaldhallen, in Stockholm for the first time since 2009. The prize money amounts to SEK 150,000 and the winner will also have the opportunity to work with 11 prominent radio choirs within the EBU in upcoming concert seasons. Altogether, this makes the Eric Ericson Award the most prestigious competition for choir conductors in the world.

The Swedish Radiochoir and Eric Ericson. A collaboration that lasted for more than 30 years. Photo Mattias Ahlm & Anders Roth / SR

“The European Broadcasting Union is a source of strength for us as a radio broadcaster, and a great deal of interest has been expressed in being part of the collaborations surrounding the Eric Ericson Award. The fact that 11 European radio broadcasters want the winning conductor to guest-conduct their choirs is testimony to the eminence of this prize,” says Staffan Becker, General Manager of Berwaldhallen, the Swedish Radio concert hall.

“We at the EBU Music Unit, together with Member representatives in charge of radio choirs, are proud to be involved with the Eric Ericson Award and salute the great work done by our colleagues at Swedish Radio. This announcement brings hope at a time when having a collective project means so much – even more so when it supports outstanding young artists.” says Pascale Labrie, Head of Music at the EBU.

Eric Ericson served as chief conductor of the Swedish Radio Choir for more than 30 years, from 1951 to 1982, making incalculable contributions to choral singing and choral music in Sweden and around the world. By performing works by contemporary composers in his lifetime, many written specifically for him and the Swedish Radio Choir, he opened up an entirely new dimension to how a choir can sound and be led. Throughout those years, he also taught choral conducting at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where he nurtured several generations of young conductors.

“Over half a million Swedes sing in choirs and Eric Ericson’s legacy remains very much alive. With the Eric Ericson Award, we are providing the next generation of choir conductors with the foundations for an international career.  It is with great pleasure that the Royal Swedish Academy of Music assists in making this competition and prize a reality once again, and to have it be part of the Academy’s 250th anniversary in 2021 – our Year of Music,” says Susanne Rydén, President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

The Rosenborg Gehrmans Stiftelse has donated the prize sum of 150.000 kr, of which the winner is awarded 100.000 SEK and the second and third runners up get 25.000 SEK each. Previous winners of the competition are Kjetil Almenning (2009), Martina Batič (2006), and Peter Dijkstra (2003).

Applications for the Eric Ericson Award 2021 are submitted through ericericsonaward.se. The competition is open to all choir conductors under 35 years of age. Last day for registrations is May 17, 2021.

For more information, please visit ericericsonaward.se.
For press inquiries, please contact

Karl Thorson
Press- & PR-ansvarig / Press & PR Manager
Berwaldhallen | Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester | Radiokören
karl.thorson@sverigesradio.se
08-784 18 30 | 070-431 18 93

Sveriges Radios konserthus Berwaldhallen
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