Here are the nominees for the 2023 Nordic Council Music Prize

This year’s nominees include composers and songwriters, soloists, folk musicians and music groups as well as a kantele player, a pianist, and an orchestra. There are international stars, musical magicians and avant-gardists, strong voices and creative talents with huge musicality, as well as established artists who have been active for many years.

This is a strong field with nominees from all the Nordic countries. The music prize recognises the creation and performance of music of a high artistic standard.

Here are the nominees:

The artists have been nominated by the national members of the adjudicating committee for the Nordic Council Music Prize.

The winner of the 2023 Nordic Council Music Prize will be announced together with the winners of the other Nordic Council prizes on 31 October in Oslo in conjunction with the Session of the Nordic Council. The winner will receive the Nordlys statuette and DKK 300,000.

The Nordic Council Music Prize was first awarded in 1965 and recognises the creation and performance of music of a high artistic standard. The prize is awarded on alternate years to a work by a living composer in one year, and an individual performer or group the next, as is the case this year.

The Nordic Council awards five prizes each year – for literature, film, music, the environment, and children’s and young people’s literature. The purpose of the Nordic Council prizes is to draw attention to outstanding artistic and environmental contributions, as well as to raise interest in the Nordic cultural community and Nordic co-operation on the environment.