Nordic Council Music Prize 2002 to Sunleif Rasmussen of the Faroe Islands

After careful consideration of nominations from all of the Nordic countries, theNordic Music Committee has decided to award the Nordic Council Music Prize 2002to the Faroese composer Sunleif Rasmussen for his Symphony no. 1 - "OceanicDays" (1995-97).

It is the first time that the prize has gone to a composer from one of whatare known in Norden as the 'autonomous territories'. The prize is worth DKK350,000.

Sunleif Rasmussen was born in 1961. He studied in Denmark but now lives andworks on the Faroes. This is how the NOMUS Committee described its decision:

"Like a musical William Heinesen, Sunleif Rasmussen has put the FaroeIslands on the map.

His Symphony no. 1 - "Oceanic Days", the firstFaroese symphony, derives its inspiration from Faroese nature and from age-oldFaroese hymns, from which Rasmussen has created a work of comprehensivedimensions. It radiates a natural artistic integrity, combining tightness andstructure with lyric feeling."

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The prize will be handed over on 29 October during the Nordic CouncilSession.

The award ceremony will take place in the Helsinki Opera during a galaconcert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Nordic Council. Esa-PekkaSalonen will conduct Orchestra Norden at the concert.