TRONDHEIM INTL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION

23 - 27 SEPTEMBER 2025

Concert in the Freemason Hall

ABOUT TICC

Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition (TICC) is arranged in September every second year, alternately for string quartets and piano trios. We focus especially on advanced student ensembles and young professional ensembles. 

About TICC
History
Talent Trondheim
Music Competitions Norway

The springboard model

In the years between competitions there is Academy for the same kind of ensembles as in next year’s competition. This “springboard model” spans a three year period and is built up with the following progression:

1st year: Trondheim International Chamber Music Academy – TICC Academy
2nd year: Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition – TICC
3rd year: Concert engagements as part of the competition prizes

The Academy offers a unique opportunity to its young musicians with a combination of:
- Master classes in the ensembles’ chosen repertoire
- Chamber music together with the instructors (including piano quartets/quintets, string quintets and other).
- The Academy is held during the Trondheim Chamber Music Festival, and the ensembles have free entry to the festival’s concerts

In addition to offering instruction of top international standard, TICC Academy wishes to serve as a springboard for the ensembles’ further career. One or more ensembles may be selected by the instructors to directly qualify for the next year’s Competition.

We hope that the competition can be an inspiration for young chamber music ensembles. With attractive prizes; both cash prizes and festival engagements, we also hope that the competition will act as a springboard to the ensembles careers.

Kristin Reigstad is Executive leader of Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition.

Trondheim Chamber Music Festival

The Competition and Academy are always arranged during Trondheim Chamber Music Festival.The Trondheim Chamber Music Festival has, since its inception in 1996, had young musicians as its main profile. In 2000, the festival took a step further in inspiring young musicians to perform chamber music on a high level by arranging the first TICC. 

The competitors/academy participants have free entry to the festival’s concerts. The executive Director of Trondheim International Chamber Music Festival is Sigmund Tvete Vik. He is also the Artistic Director of the festival and of Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition and Academy.

Click here to read more about Trondheim Chamber Music Festival.

HISTORY

Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition was first arranged in 2000. Since 2003 the competition has been held every second year, and alternates between piano trios and string quartets. The years between competitions, there is Academy for the same kind of ensembles as in next year’s competition.

2024 | Academy: String quartet

Academy instructors

François Kieffer (FR)

Hélène Clément (FR)

Lorraine Campet (FR)

Tom Poster (UK)


Festival composer: Jessie Montgomery (US)

2023 | Competition: Piano trio

Prizes

1st Prize, The Torstein Erbo Prize: Rilian Trio (CA)
2nd Prize, The KHL Prize: Trio Tokava
3rd Prize, The City of Trondheim "Kåre Opdal Prize": Trio Incendio (CZ)
The Audience Prize: Rilian Trio (CA)
The Kim Trio Commission Prize: Rilian Trio (CA)
Jury Special Prize: Trio Tokava (MY/TW/US)

Commissioned work

Ellen Lindquist: Shining Through

 

Competition jury

Anthony Marwood (UK/NL), jury leader
Anja Lechner (DE)
Arisa Fujita (JP)
Berit Cardas (NO)
Christian Ihle Hadland (NO)
Louise Hopkins (UK)
Stefan Mendl (AT)

2022 | Academy: Piano trio

Academy instructors

Matthew McDonald (AU)
Miguel da Silva (FR)
Stefan Mendl (AUT)
Tetzlaff Quartet

2021 | Competition: String quartet

Prizes

1st Prize, The Torstein Erbo Prize: Quatuor Confluence (FR)
2nd Prize, KHL Prize: NOVO Quartet (DK/PL)
3rd Prize, The Trondheim City "Kåre Opdal" Prize: Animato Quartet (NO/NE)

The Audience Prize: Quatuor Confluence 
The Commission Prize: Quatuor Confluence
Idagio NextGen Award: Quatuor Confluence
Jury Special Prize: Masterclass at JMD Schloss Weikersheim: NOVO Quartet and Animato Quartet

Commission piece

Eirik Hegdal, Dancing Critters

 

Competition jury

Levon Chilingirian (UK) chairman
Leonhard Disselhorst (DE)
Henninge Båtnes Landaas (NO)
Øyvind Gimse (NO)
Geir Inge Lotsberg (NO)
Marianna Shirinyan (AM)
Frederik Øland (DK)

2020 | Academy: String quartet

Academy instructors

Saskia Giorgini, piano
Jennifer Stumm, viola
Vertavo String Quartet
Van Kuijk Quartet

2019 | Competition: Piano trio

Prizes

1st Prize, The Torstein Erbo Prize: Mithras trio (MD/UK)
2nd Prize, The KHL Prize: Trio Hèlios (FR)
3rd Prize, The Trondheim Community "Kåre Opdal" Prize: Trio Opal (D/J/TW)

The Kim Trio Comission Prize: Trio Opal
The Audience Prize: Trio Opal
Masterclass at JMD Schloss Weikersheim: Mithras trio and Trio Hèlios

Commissioned work

Erlend Skomsvoll, Playfulness

 

Competition jury

Lambert Orkis, piano (USA), Jury Chairman
Sharon Bezaly, flute
Thomas Hoppe, piano
François Kieffer, cello
Sølve Sigerland, violin
Tanja Tetzlaff, cello
Marianne Thorsen, violin

2018 | Academy: Piano trio

Academy instructors

Joseph Kalichstein, piano, Academy leader (Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio)
Kari Kriikku, clarinet
Danish String Quartet
Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble

2017 | Competition: String quartet

Prizes

1st Prize, The Torstein Erbo Prize: Maxwell Quartet (UK)
2nd Prize, The KHL Prize: Omer Quartet (US/KR)
Joint 3rd Prize, The Trondheim Community "Kåre Opdal" Prize: Esmé Quartet (KR) and Simply Quartet (CN/NO)

The Audience Prize: Maxwell Quartet

Commissioned work

Lars Petter Hagen, Transfigurations for String Quartet

 

Competition jury

Levon Chilingirian, violin (Chilingirian Quartet) (UK), Jury Chairman
François Kieffer, cello (Quatuor Modigliani) (France)
Vladimir Mendelssohn, viola (RO)
Susie Mészáros, viola (Chilingirian Quartet) (UK)
Joseph Breinl, piano
Øystein Sonstad, cello  (Oslo String Quartet)(NO)
Øyvor Volle, violin (Vertavo Quartet) (NO) 

2016 | Academy: String quartet

Academy instructors

Hatto Beyerle (DE), viola, Academy leader
Gabriela Montero (VE), piano
Henning Kraggerud (NO), violin
Pavel Haas Quartet
Trio con Brio Copenhagen 

2015 | Competition: Piano trio

Prizes

1st Prize, The Torstein Erbo Prize: Trio Isimsiz (UK)
2nd Prize, The KHL Prize: Madison Trio (USA)
3rd Prize, The Trondheim Community "Kåre Opdal" Prize: Trio Jade (KO)

The Audience Prize: Madison Trio

 

Competition jury

Anthony Marwood, violin (UK), Chairman of the Jury
Christian Poltera, cello (CZH)
Juliet Jopling, viola (Engegård Quartet) (UK/NO)
Soo-Jin Hong, violin (Trio con Brio Copenhagen) (DK)
Øyvind Gimse, cello (NO)
Aleksandar Madžar, piano (RS)
Ian Brown, piano (UK)

2014 | Academy: Piano trio

Academy instructors

Hatto Beyerle (DE), viola, Academy leader
Daniel Hope (ZA), violin, guest instructor
Miguel da Silva (FR)
ATOS Trio

2013 | Competition: String quartet

Prizes

1st Prize, The Torstein Erbo Prize: Van Kuijk Quartet (FR)
2nd Prize, The KHL Prize: Idomeneo String Quartet (ES/UK/NO)
3rd Prize, The Trondheim Community "Kåre Opdal" Prize: Jubilee Quartet (UK)

The Audience Prize: Van Kuijk Quartet

Competition jury

Levon Chilingirian (UK), violin, Chairman (UK)
Håvard Gimse (NO), piano
Leoš Čepický, violin (Wihan Quartet)
Aleš Kaspřík, cello (Wihan Quartet)
Marianne Thorsen (NO), violin
Thomas Riebl, viola
Louise Hopkins (UK), cello 

2012 | Academy: String quartet

Academy instructors

Hatto Beyerle, viola, Academy leader
Gunilla Süssmann, piano
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, guest instructor
Quatuor Ebène

2011 | Competition: Piano trio

Prizes

1st Prize, The Torstein Erbo Prize: Paul Klee Trio (FR)
2nd Prize, The NTNU Prize: Fournier Trio (UK/KR/AU)
3rd Prize, The Trondheim Community "Kåre Opdal" Prize: Trio Atanassov (FR)

The Audience Prize: Fournier Trio

Competition jury

Ralph Kirshbaum, cello, Chairman
Jørgen Larsen, piano
Anthony Marwood, violin
Susan Tomes, piano
Jonathan Kelly, oboe
Torleif Thedéen, cello
Pamela Frank, violin 

2010 | Academy: Piano trio

Academy instructors

Daniel Hope, violin, Academy leader (UK/DE)
Lawrence Power, viola (UK)
Knut-Erik Sundquist, double bass (NO)
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano, guest instructor (NO)

2009 | Competition: String quartet

Prizes

1st Prize, The Torstein Erbo Prize: Quatuor Tercea (FR)
Joint 2nd Prize, The NTNU/Trondheim Community "Kåre Opdal" Prize: Finzi Quartet (GB/IE) and EnAccord String Quartet (BE/NL)

Audience Prize: Quatuor Tercea

Competition jury

Levon Chilingirian, violin, Chairman (GB)
Laura Samuel, violin, Belcea Quartet (GB)
Antoine Lederlin, cello, Belcea Quartet (GB)
Elise Båtnes, violin (NO)
Bengt Forsberg, piano (SE)
Christoph Richter, cello (DE)
Matti Hirvikangas, viola, Sibelius Quartet (FI)

2008 | Academy: String quartet

Academy instructors

Gabor Takács-Nagy, Chairman
Kathryn Stott, piano
Volker Jacobsen, viola
Martin Fröst, clarinet, guest instructor 

2007 | Competition: Piano trio

Prizes

1st Prize: No 1st Prize was given
Joint 2nd Prize, The NTNU/ Torstein Erbo Prize: Arctia Piano Trio (FI/NO) and Trio Boulanger (DE)
3rd Prize - The Trondheim Community "Kåre Opdal" Prize: Trio Ismena (DK)

Audience Prize: Arctia Piano Trio

Competition jury

Menahem Pressler, piano, Chairman
Lambert Orkis, piano
Marianne Thorsen, violin
Tim Frederiksen, viola
Tim Vogler, violin
Ellen Flesjø, cello
Stephan Forck, cello

2006 | Academy: Piano trio

Academy instructors

Joseph Kalichstein, piano, Academy leader
Kronos Quartet, guest instructor
Kungsbacka Piano Trio
Lars Anders Tomter, violin

2005 | Competition: String quartet

Prizes

Joint 1st Prize, The NTNU/ Torstein Erbo Prize: Sacconi Quartet (GB) and Danish String Quartet (DK)
2nd Prize: No 2nd Prize was given
3rd Prize - The Trondheim Community "Kåre Opdal" Prize: UTA Quartet (FI)

Audience Prize: Danish String Quartet

Competition jury

Levon Chilingirian, violin, Chairman (GB)
Nobuko Imai, viola
Mats Zetterqvist, violin
Philip De Groote, cello
Øyvind Gimse, cello
Corina Belcea, violin
Krzysztof Chorzelski, viola

2004 | Academy: String quartet

Academy instructors

Levon Chilingirian, violin
Arve Tellefsen, violin
Are Sandbakken, viola
Jan-Erik Gustafsson, cello
Jens Elvekjær, piano

2003 | Competition: Piano trio

Prizes

1st Prize: Trio con Brio Copenhagen (DK)
2nd Prize: No 2nd Prize was given
Joint 3rd Prize, The NTNU Prize / The Trondheim Community "Kåre Opdal" Prize: The Driver-Yamasaki-Coates Trio (GB) and Kim Trio (KR)

Audience Prize: Trio con Brio Copenhagen

Competition jury

Ralph Kirshbaum, cello
György Pauk, violin
Ernst Kovacic, violin
Lambert Orkis, piano
Paul Lewis, piano
Liv Glaser, piano
Bjørg Værnes, cello

2002 | Academy

Academy instructors

Sølve Sigerland, violin
Øyvind Gimse, cello
Frans Helmerson , cello
The Nash Ensemble

2000 | Competition: Piano trio and String quartet

Prizes

1st Prizes:

Piano Trios: Zagreb Piano Trio (HR)

String Quartets: Paizo Quartet (DK)

 

Competition jury

Piano Trio:
Ralph Kirshbaum, cello, Chairman
Sølve Sigerland, violin
Philip De Groote, cello
Vebjørn Anvik, piano
Ian Brown, piano


String Quartet:
Levon Chilingirian, violin, Chairman
Charles Sewart, violin
Asdis Valdimarsdottir, viola
Bjarne Fiskum, violin
Ellen M. Flesjø, cello

TALENT TRONDHEIM

Mentoring, instruction and concerts for young talents

Talent Trondheim is a cooperation between Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Opera, Trondheim Soloists Chamber Orchestra, NTNU department of music, Trondheim Municipal School of Cultures talent program and TICC. Offering young musical talents development projects in chamber music, Talent Trondheim provides mentoring, instruction and concerts. 

Click here to visit Talent Trondheim´s website.

MUSIC COMPETITIONS NORWAY

Music Competitions Norway is a network of international music competitions in Norway. In addition to being a platform for exchanging ideas and experiences, the network seeks to increase interest in, and knowledge about, music competitions as a whole.

Princess Astrid International Music Competition

Location: Trondheim
Discipline: Violin and conducting
Frequency: Every other year
Age limit: 30, (35 for conductors)
More information: https://www.tso.no/competition

Established in 1953, this biennial competition hosted by the Trondheim Symfoniorkester & Opera rotates between violin and conducting. Assembling a world wide scope of talented candidates as well as a distinguished jury, this competition brings its audience engaging concerts of high quality. Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner of Norway is patron of the competition.

The International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition

Location: Bergen
Discipline: Piano
Frequency: Every other year
Age limit: 17-33
More information: http://griegcompetition.com/  

The International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition was founded in Oslo in 2000, by professor Einar Steen-Nøkleberg. In 2012 the competition moved to Bergen and Troldhaugen, composer Edvard Grieg's home. This gives candidates and audience the unique opportunity to experience Grieg´s music in the very surroundings where much of it was composed. The final concert takes place in Grieghallen with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Queen Sonja International Music Competition

Location: Oslo
Discipline: Voice
Frequency: Every other year
Age limit: 32
More information: https://qssc.no/en/ 

The Queen Sonja International Music Competition is a prestigious competition, held in Oslo every two years for singers from around the world. The competition is a platform for providing career opportunities for young singers and acts as a stepping-stone to the professional music world for young artists. It also acts as a bridge builder between the Norwegian and international music scenes.

Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition

Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition
Location: Trondheim
Discipline: Chamber Music
Frequency: Every other year
Age limit: 16-35
More information: https://ticc.no/ 

The competition takes place every other year and alternates between presenting string quartets and piano trios. An academy for the forthcoming year's ensemble type is arranged in the years between the competitions. The competition takes place during the Trondheim Chamber Music Festival, allowing both jury members and candidates to participate and contribute into the very special festival atmosphere.