Winners of Jan Wallander Prize
The prize is awarded each year to one of Sweden’s young outstanding music students who study at one of the music colleges in Sweden. The prize allows the recipient to use an extremely high-grade instrument at the beginning of his professional career.
Hugo Löf – winner 2024
Prize citation
With his breathtaking virtuosity and imaginative improvisational talent, the double bassist Hugo Löf is a worthy winner of this year’s Jan Wallander Prize.
Hugo Löf was born into a musical family in 2002 and grew up in Piteå. He began playing the electric bass at 10 years of age, while he has been playing the double bass ever since receiving one as a Christmas present in the 7th grade. He is currently studying the Bachelor’s Programme in Jazz at the Royal College of Music (KMH) in Stockholm and is set to graduate in the spring.
His degree thesis examines how music develops when the bass is given a more prominent role as soloist. His degree concert included performances of both self-composed material and standards from the Great American Songbook.His degree thesis examines how music develops when the bass is given a more prominent role as soloist. His degree concert included performances of both self-composed material and standards from the Great American Songbook.
Prize
A double bass made in England in around 1830.
- Two-piece back plate in fine flamed maple. Ribs and scroll in the same material.
- Two-piece top plate in medium- to broad-grained spruce. Yellow-orange varnish on a golden background.
- Measures 42.1 cm in length of body.
- Width of top plate, upper bout: 52.5 cm.
- Width of top plate: lower bout: 69 cm.
David Stener – winner 2023
Prize citation
For his natural and mature playing style, allied with a wonderful feel for harmony and an outstanding improvisational flow, pianist David Stener has been awarded the Jan Wallander Prize for 2023.
David Stener was born in 1998 and grew up in Stockholm. Having experimented with drums and guitar at an early age, he chose to focus his attention on the piano at the age of 11. He is currently studying the Bachelor’s Programme in Jazz at the Royal College of Music (KMH) in Stockholm and is set to graduate in the spring.
His thesis takes a deeper look at the harmonic features of Broadway musicals. Through his own compositions, he aims to create music using elements from both jazz and musicals.
Prize
This years prize ia s Grand piano, Steinway & Sons B-211.
Since Steinway & Sons was founded in 1853, the company’s goal has always been to make the finest grand pianos in the world. This objective of creating the best possible instrument is what makes a Steinway the unique piano that it is. Today, 98 per cent of the world’s concert pianists use a Steinway, and 97 per cent use one on a daily basis. 97 per cent of concert halls throughout the world use at least one grand piano from Steinway & Sons.
Ilias Livieratos – winner 2022
Prize citation
The violist ILIAS LIVIERATOS possesses a warm and rich sound. He displays a multifaceted playing that is deeply personal and always interesting. He is a wonderful instrumentalist and a worthy recipient of this year´s Wallander Prize.
Ilias Livieratos, born in 1991, is originally from Greece. He earned his bachelor’s degree in violin from the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich, where he studied with the violinist and conductor Christoph Poppen. He is also an alumnus of the Mozarteum Salzburg. In 2021 he came to Stockholm and the Royal College of Music to study the master’s program in Classical Music for the renowned violist Ellen Nisbeth.
Ilias is the principal violist at the viola of the Athens State Orchestra, Athens’ oldest orchestra, and has served as both a violist and a violinist at the Greek National Opera. He has also worked in Camerata-Armonia Atenea and Augsburg Philharmonics.
Earlier this year he was invited by the internationally acclaimed violinist Leonidas Kavakos to a charity concert for the reconstruction of the maternity clinic in Mariupol, Ukraine.
Prize
This year’s prize is Viola from around 1800 by Giuseppe, Antonio and Giovanni Gagliano in Naples. It is from about 1800, as indicated by the associated label.
Fred Lindberg – winner 2020
Prize citation
With dazzling virtuosity and imaginative interpretation, cellist Fred Lindberg is the winner of the Jan Wallander Prize 2020.
Fred Lindberg started playing cello as a seven year old. Today he is studyng at advanced post-secondary level at KMH/ Edsberg Manor with Jakob Koranyi, professor of cello, as his head teacher. He has previously studied the mentorship program Classe d ‘Excellence de Violoncelle in Paris under the leadership of world cellist Gautier Capuçon and participated in several master classes abroad, for Steven Isserlis, Gary Hoffman, Frans Helmerson, Anner Bylsma, Jerome Pernoo and others.
Fred has performed several times as a solo artist, including with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and L’Orchestre du Conservatoire de Paris, and has also performed at major concert venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam, Admiral Palace in Berlin and the Chicago Symphony Center.
Prize
This year’s instrument is a violoncello, a fine old Italian instrument, the work of Gennaro Gagliano of Naples, whose original label it bears dated 1741.
Carl Vallin – winner 2019
Prize citation
The winner of the Jan Wallander Prize 2019 possesses personal and imaginative playing paired with a glorious virtuosity and strong stage presence.
Carl has been a concert master in the Västra Götaland Youth Symphony Orchestra and founded the string ensemble Skallsjö Summer Orchestra which he leads and runs since 2013.
In 2014-17, Carl Vallin studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London for Professor Simon Fischer. During that period he participated in productions including the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Mozart Players, and played under conductors such as Simon Rattle.
He is now completing the last semester of his master’s studies for Professor Per Enoksson at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm / Edsberg Manor. Carl has since the spring of 2018 been employed at the Royal Swedish Orchestra, where he has recently been offered a one-year probationary period as alternating first concert master.
Owing to the current spread of the covid-19 virus, it was not possible to hold the planned award ceremony for the 2020 winner of the Jan Wallander Prize, Fred Lindberg. The award ceremony will instead take place in 2021, with the date being announced in due course.
Prize
This year’s instrument is a fine 18th century example by the master Nicola Gagliano, from Naples. The violin is a Gagliano original in terms of all its essential parts, such as the top plate, the back plate, the ribs, scroll and varnish.
The instrument has a fictitious label with the following text: Ferdinandus Gagliano Filius Nicolai fecit Neap. 1766
Julia Biegniewska – winner 2018
Prize citation
The winner of the 2018 Jan Wallander Prize is a fiery, extrovert violinist who also has a rich tonal range and brilliant virtuosity.
Julia Biegniewska was born in Norrköping. She currently attends the master programme in classical music at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (KMH), with Andrej Power as her principal teacher. She began playing violin at the age of four for her father Kryspin Biegniewski, violinist in Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, and continued during secondary school for Päivikki Wirkkala-Malmqvist. Then followed studies at the Music School of Malmö for professor Marika Fältskog and at Ignacy Padarewski Academy of Music in Poznan. One year ago she won the audition to the RSPO Academy, the orchestra academy at The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Stockholm. She has also attended master classes for internationally renowned teachers like Dora Schwarzberg, Henryk Kowalski and Alf Richard Kraggerud.
Julia has several times performed as a soloist, including with the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and with the Zielona Góra Philharmonic Orchestra. She was the runner-up in “Swedish Mastership for Young Soloists” in Västerås 2009, and in 2014 and 2015 she was the principal violinist (concert-master) of the Nordic Youth Orchestra. This year she was elected to the same position in the ESTA International Chamber Orchestra, which recently performed for the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Prize
This year’s prize is a violin made by Januarius (Gennaro) Gagliano in 1756. The prize winner will have the use of it for a number of years.
Cremona, Brescia, Milan, Venice… the names of the cities of northern Italy have, of course, a particularly magical ring for violinists and other connoisseurs of history’s finest stringed instruments. But since the early 18th century there has also been a strong tradition of making outstanding stringed instrument a little further south in Italy. This is associated particularly with the Gagliano family. The least-known member of the family is probably the founder, Alessandro. After having worked for the masters Amati and Stradivari in Cremona, he brought his expertise back to his home city of Naples. Alessandro’s second son Januarius (in Italian: Gennaro) was active from about 1740 to 1780, and fewer of his instruments have survived. Those that do exist, however, are real connoisseurs’ instruments. They are normally have reddish orange- or reddish brown-coloured varnish, setting them apart from the lighter golden-yellow colour that became common among the Gagliano family’s violins in the later 18th century.
Victoria Stjerna – winner 2017
Prize citation
The winner of this year’s Jan Wallander Prize is a violinist with strong personal musical charisma. With outstanding technique and a warm tone, great artistry runs through her musical interpretations.
Victoria Stjerna was born in 1992 in Gothenburg, where her violin teacher was Laszló Szirányi, who had previously been a viola player with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
Since 2012, Victoria has been studying under Professor Per Enoksson at the Stockholm Royal College of Music at Edsberg Castle, currently at Master’s level. In parallel with this, she participates in several masterclasses within and outside Sweden – this year for Professor Ulf Wallin at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin and Professor Pavel Vernikov at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Victoria also has regular contact with her mentor, the violin virtuoso Roby Lakatos. In 2016, she played with him as a soloist in a concert with the Swedish Wind Ensemble at the Musikaliska concert hall in Stockholm. This was also recorded for a radio broadcast.
national finalist in the Polstjärnepriset (“Polar Star Prize”), a competition for talented young Swedish soloists, with the winner going on to represent Sweden in Eurovision Young Musicians every other year
second prize and the audience award in the Öresund Soloist, an international competition for young Swedish and Danish talents, with the citation “Best musicianship”
first prize in the Swedish championship for Young String Musicians, a national competition that took place in Västerås, organised by the Swedish Federation of Young Musicians
Her awards include the Guido Vecchi Scholarship.
Victoria Stjerna and the former Stockholm Royal College of Music student and pianist Natalia Kremska have together formed Duo ViNa, who are finalists in the 2017 Ung & Lovande (“Young & Promising”), Sweden’s largest chamber music competition.
In addition, Victoria Stjerna was highlighted in the Swedish Television documentary Blood, Sweat & Strings (2011), which followed the day-to-day lives of three talented young classical musicians and their dreams of becoming soloists.
Prize
The 2017 prize is a violin made in Venice by Michele Deconet in 1750.
- The two-piece back plate is made of flame-grained maple – as are the ribs and scroll.
- The two-piece top plate is made of alpine spruce, with medium to fine annual rings.
- The varnish is of a golden yellow colour on a golden background.
Charlotta Grahn Wetter – winner 2016
Prize citation
The winner of the 2016 prize has a very beautiful tone – a sound with lustre and intensity. Our prizewinner’s musicality and expressive skills generate rare concentration among audiences, moving them deeply.
Charlotta Grahn Wetter comes from Gothenburg. She started playing the violin at the age of four and was taught according to the Suzuki method. She has previously studied under Lars Kvensler and David Bergström at the Göteborg Opera Orchestra, and also under Gunnar Crantz and Peter Herrestahl. Charlotta completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (KMH), studying under Professor Henryk Kowalski, and since the autumn of 2015, she has been pursuing a two-year Advanced Study Programme in Interpretation at the college.
In November 2014, Charlotta appeared as a soloist in a performance of Karol Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No. 1 together with the KMH Symphony Orchestra and conductor Fredrik Burstedt. In the autumn of 2015, she was a semi-finalist in the Ljunggren Competition for Young Musicians and later performed as a soloist in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto at the Spira Concert Hall together with the Jönköping Symphony Orchestra Association. As an orchestral and chamber musician, Charlotta has appeared in many different contexts, including the Askanäs Concerts, the Skägga Music Festival, Sweden’s Young Chamber Soloists, the International Vadstena Academy, Musica Vitae, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Swedish Orchestra and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
She has participated in master classes taken by Ulf Wallin, Henning Kraggerud, Boris Brovtsyn, Christian Svarfvar, Federico Agostini, Mark Messenger and Alena Baeva, and in chamber music ensembles of Martin Fröst, the Kungsbacka Piano Trio, Paul Roberts, Stefan Bojsten, Mats Zetterqvist and Torleif Thedéen.
Charlotta has been awarded scholarships from, among others, the Freemasons’ Anniversary Fund, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, the Willinska Foundation, the Kempe-Carlgrenska Foundation, the Carl Erik Levin Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Lindeqvist’s Endowment Fund.
Prize
A violin made in Venice by Michele Deconet in 1750.
- The two-piece back plate is made of flame-grained maple – as are the ribs and scroll.
- The two-piece top plate is made of alpine spruce, with medium to fine annual rings.
- The varnish is of a golden yellow colour on a golden background.
- The body measures 356mm in length.
Josef Karnebäck – winner 2015
Prize citation
The 2015 prizewinner has many facets and colours to his playing, a wonderful tone, brilliant technique and an irresistible swing. Our prizewinner’s personality reflects a unique artistry, where his strong individual voice and his will to communicate with his fellow musicians and his audience burn with a bright flame.
Josef Karnebäck was born in 1987 on the island of Gotland, and when he was eight years old he started playing the cello. When he was 14, a love for the double-bass and the electric bass guitar took over, and at the age of eighteen he was admitted to the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from the Malmö Academy of Music (Lund University), and has now returned to Stockholm, where he is studying the Royal College of Music’s Master’s Programme in Jazz.
A broad range of genres and musical variation have always been the hallmark of Josef’s musicianship. He has constantly moved between different types of ensemble, such as jazz and folk groups, big bands, symphony orchestras, pop groups and brass bands. He has played in operas and musicals, in concert halls and on intimate club stages.
He has worked with Andreas Pettersson, Bengan Jansson, Ulf Johansson Werre, Claes Janson, Visby Big Band, Sweet Jazz Trio, Sylvia Vrethammar, Håkan Rydin, Gunnel Mauritzson, Ida Karlsson, Tomas Boström, Anna Jalkéus, children’s programme presenter Morgan ”Mojje” Johansson, the Gotlandsmusiken Brass Orchestra, the Malmö Academy Orchestra and the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra.
He has studied under Martin Sjöstedt, Hans Andersson, Michael Carlsson, Jonas Reingold, Robert Sundin, Nils Ossman and Jan Adefelt.
Josef’s home base is in Stockholm, and on Gotland, where he plays regularly. He also plays widely all over Sweden, and has made appearances in Germany, Brazil, Lithuania and Cuba.
In the first half of 2015, in addition to completing his Master’s Degree from the Royal College of Music, Josef will release his debut album as a soloist with his own group, entitled “Momentum.” His music is episodic and sonorous, challenging the instrument’s traditional place in an ensemble. This modern, composed, acoustic jazz mixes bold rhythmic elements with a care for melody and tone.
Prize
The 2015 prize is double bass made in England in around 1830.
- Two-piece back plate in fine flamed maple. Ribs and scroll in the same material.
- Two-piece top plate in medium- to broad-grained spruce. Yellow-orange varnish on a golden background.
Joel Lyssarides – winner 2014
Prize citation
A young musician whose playing shows exquisite feel, subtle harmonics and vibrant phrasing, contributing to creativity at the highest artistic level. With imaginative musicianship and outstanding expressiveness, our prize-winner weaves stories full of splendid colours, beauty, and a rare luminosity.
Joel Lyssarides (born 1992) started playing the piano when he was four. Today he is a final year student on the B.A. degree course in Music at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, with Ove Lundin as his main tutor. He has also studied under Professor Danilo Rea at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, and under Robert Malmberg in Stockholm.
Joel’s mother played classical piano but loved jazz, and had many recordings by pianists such as Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Bill Evans. However, it was at the age of eight, after hearing Charlie Parker’s “Bluebird,” that Joel’s interest in jazz was really awakened. Boogie-woogie, blues and jazz standards took their place beside his classical piano studies. As soon as he was old enough for the music courses run by the local authority, Joel also began to take clarinet lessons.
At the age of fifteen, Joel played a duet with trumpet player Jan Allan and a string quartet at a memorial concert for the Swedish jazz pianist Jan Johansson at Södra Latin School. This was the occasion that inspired Joel to explore jazz further.
In the autumn of 2012, Joel was awarded the Stallbröderna Society’s Scholarship for “promising young musicians,” as well as an instrument scholarship from the Stellan, Sten and Märta Hähnel Memorial Foundation. In late 2013, Joel achieved second place in the 24th Vilnius International Jazz Piano Competition, and also received the audience’s special prize.
In parallel with his music studies, Joel has freelanced in the jazz and pop genres. In the summer of 2012, he undertook his first European tour with Zakiya Hooker, daughter of blues legend John Lee Hooker. Together they toured Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy and Germany. In addition, Joel has performed with Svante Thuresson, Peter Getz, the Norwegian pop singer Maria Mena and the Swedish singer Kristin Amparo.
Prize
This years prize ia s Grand piano, Steinway & Sons B-211.
Since Steinway & Sons was founded in 1853, the company’s goal has always been to make the finest grand pianos in the world. This objective of creating the best possible instrument is what makes a Steinway the unique piano that it is. Today, 98 per cent of the world’s concert pianists use a Steinway, and 97 per cent use one on a daily basis. 97 per cent of concert halls throughout the world use at least one grand piano from Steinway & Sons.
Tomas Lundström – winner 2013
Prize citation
A young cellist with great maturity and excellence in all his artistry. With imaginative musicianship and impressive technical skills, our award-winner brings out all the inherent qualities of the music. His beautiful tone and confident intonation contribute to a strong, convincing musical expression.
Tomas Lundström (born 1988) started playing the cello when he was four years old. At the moment he is studying for his soloist diploma under Professor Torleif Thedéen at Edsbergs Musikinstitut in Stockholm.
Tomas has already gained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, under Professor Ola Karlsson.
When he was six, Tomas won Swedish TV3’s talent contest Juniorchansen, which led to him representing Sweden in the international competition Bravo Bravissimo in Cremona, Italy. In January 1998, he moved to Moscow on a Vladimir Spivakov Foundation scholarship, and studied under Professors Natalja Schahovskaja and Alexey Seleznev. After this, Tomas’s studies continued under Mats Rondin in Stockholm. In 2007, Tomas won the Swedish Federation of Young Musicians’ competition for soloists, and also achieved first place in the chamber music category with the string quartet in which he was then playing.
In June 2011, he took part in the 21st Century Art competition in Mänttä-Vilppula, Finland. Here, too, he won two first prizes, in the solo and chamber music categories. Tomas is active as a chamber musician, and as a soloist he has performed with, for instance, Uppsala Chamber Soloists and the Gävle Symphony Orchestra. Interestingly, Tomas happens to be the brother of the 2012 winner of the Jan Wallander Prize, Sofia Hansén.
Prize
This year’s instrument is a violoncello, a fine old Italian instrument, the work of Gennaro Gagliano of Naples, whose original label it bears dated 1741.
Sofia Hansen – winner 2012
Prize citation
A young musician with a sound, convincing feeling for rhythm, tone and phrasing. Her well-developed technique means that her playing is relaxed and natural, making the most of the special nature of the viola. She interprets the repertoire with elegance, coupled with a warm, engaging, personal approach.
Sofia Hansen (former Lundström) born 1986 is a gifted, skilful viola player who is on the threshold of a promising and musical future.
She is coming to the end of her studies, the diploma course at Edsberg Manor (Stockholm Royal College of Music), where her principal tutor is Professor Malin Broman.
She has also completed Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees – both at Edsberg Manor – under Professors Lars Anders Tomter and Torleif Thedeén. Throughout her period of study, Sofia has also studied chamber music with Professor Mats Zetterqvist.
The constant presence of chamber music at the academy triggered Sofia’s interest in this art form, which led to her actively searching for and playing this type of music outside the academy. Sofia has played chamber music concerts with most of Sweden’s leading classical musicians. Among other things, she is a member of the award-winning string quartet Sätterströmska Sällskapet, which in the autumn of 2012 held its debut concert at the Stockholm Concert Hall (Grünewald Auditorium), after winning the Royal Swedish Academy of Music’s major ensemble scholarship in 2010.
For the past two years, Sofia has also been a member of Sweden’s Young Chamber Music Soloists – a platform from which Sweden’s leading young musicians can give concerts, with the ambition of testing out, regenerating and rejuvenating the Swedish classical music scene.
In November 2088, Sofia performed as a soloist with the Athens Symphony Orchestra KOA, after having won its audition corresponding to Sweden’s “Young Soloists.” In the summer of 2012, she also performed at chamber music festivals in Greece, including with the leader of the Royal Danish Orchestra, Lars Bjørnkjaer, and the leaders of the orchestra of the Greek National Opera, Yannos Margaziotis and Angela Giannaki.
Sofia also won the Swedish Royal Court Orchestra’s audition for a temporary position; she was then able to work at the Opera in 2009-2010, which she did in parallel with her studies. In addition, Sofia has played with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and NorrlandsOperan, which invited her to return as section leader in February and March 2012.
Musicians from whom Sofia has received guidance in master classes include Thomas Riebl, Kim Kashkashian and Lawrence Power. For a number of years Sofia benefited from the Welin Fund, whereby she was able to borrow an instrument made by Peter Westerlund. At present she plays a viola made in Lübeck in 1998.
Prize
This year’s instrument is a viola, a fine old instrument made by Giuseppe, Antonio and Giovanni Gagliano in Naples. It is from circa 1800, as stated on the accompanying label.
Oscar Treitler – winner 2011
Prize citation
A young musician who has already achieved great technical and musical maturity. He has a rich sound, a flexible vibrato and lively phrasing, which together make a strong, convincing musical impression. The intellectual and emotional sides of the music are in equilibrium, in musicality filled with verve and zest.
Oscar Treitler (born in 1989), has excelled both in Sweden and abroad as a versatile, distinctive young violinist.
In the past year Oscar has performed as a soloist with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra and the DalaSinfoniettan Symphony Orchestra in concertos by Brahms and Mozart. In early 2006 he performed as a soloist with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in a concert from Solliden, Stockholm that was broadcast on television.
Oscar has received much attention in several international competitions for his beautiful tone and engaging performances. He won first prize in the Rovere d’Oro in Italy at the early age of thirteen.
In competition with violinists from Europe, the US and Asia, Oscar received a special commendation as a finalist in the prestigious 2009 Wronski Solo Violin Competition in Warsaw.
Oscar is studying in the diploma class at the Stockholm Royal College of Music, where Henryk Kowalski is his tutor and mentor. He has also studied under Professor Kowalski at Indiana University, where he was the second leader of the Festival Orchestra, beside several leading American orchestra leaders.
Since mid-2011 Oscar has also been studying under the legendary violin professor Igor Ozim at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg. He has taken part in master classes for Gidon Kremer, Zakhar Bron, Pavel Vernikov, etc
Oscar is a dedicated chamber musician and has given concerts in the UK, Italy, Russia, Switzerland and Japan. In 2008 he was invited by the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra to give a concert in their chamber music series.
Oscar and his fiancée Caroline Waldemarsson make up a violin duo, and they will be touring the US during the summer.
Prize
This year’s instrument is a fine 18th century example by the master Nicola Gagliano, from Naples. The violin is a Gagliano original in terms of all its essential parts, such as the top plate, the back plate, the ribs, scroll and varnish.
The instrument has a fictitious label with the following text: Ferdinandus Gagliano Filius Nicolai fecit Neap. 1766
Daniel Migdal – winner 2010
Prize citation
Daniel Migdal has established himself as one of the most promising young violinists in Sweden. Daniel is a sought after chamber musician and has been touring as chamber musician and soloist in Sweden, Estonia, France, England, Poland and China.
Daniel Migdal (born in 1986) has established himself as one of the most promising young violinists in Sweden.
At the age of seven he made his debut on Swedish TV when he performed Paganini’s Sonata in A major on the “Café Norrköping” programme.
He has performed as a soloist with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra, the Stockholm Royal College of Music’s string orchestra, the Aurora Symphony Orchestra and the Eskilstuna Symphony Orchestra.
Daniel is an in-demand chamber musician. Among other things, he gave the maiden performance of Anders Nilsson’s second string quartet at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music’s festival, and he has toured as a chamber musician and soloist in Sweden, Estonia, France, the UK, Poland and China. In Warsaw, Daniel performed Pablo Sarasate’s “Caprice Basque,” which was broadcast on television across Europe.
Daniel has taken part in chamber music festivals such as Chamber Music in Allhelgonakyrkan Church, Stockholm, the Lyckå Chamber Music Festival, the Vamlingbo Chamber Music Festival and the Aurora Chamber Music Festival.
Prize
This year’s prize is a violin made by Januarius (Gennaro) Gagliano in 1756. The prize winner will have the use of it for a number of years.
Cremona, Brescia, Milan, Venice… the names of the cities of northern Italy have, of course, a particularly magical ring for violinists and other connoisseurs of history’s finest stringed instruments. But since the early 18th century there has also been a strong tradition of making outstanding stringed instrument a little further south in Italy. This is associated particularly with the Gagliano family. The least-known member of the family is probably the founder, Alessandro. After having worked for the masters Amati and Stradivari in Cremona, he brought his expertise back to his home city of Naples. Alessandro’s second son Januarius (in Italian: Gennaro) was active from about 1740 to 1780, and fewer of his instruments have survived. Those that do exist, however, are real connoisseurs’ instruments. They are normally have reddish orange- or reddish brown-coloured varnish, setting them apart from the lighter golden-yellow colour that became common among the Gagliano family’s violins in the later 18th century.