The viewers chose 15-year-old Alma Serafin Kraggerud. So did the jury, and then the girl from Jar in Oslo was set to represent Norway in the international Eurovision Young Musicians competition in France in July 2022. This competition for European classical musicians takes place every other year. Alma began playing when she was five years old and performed as a soloist with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra when she was nine. She describes herself as "curious, explorative, and thinking that I tell a story without words. That I am a kind of adventurer." She has already had numerous solo engagements, including performances with Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Arctic Philharmonic, and Forsvarets stabsmusikkorps (Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces); she has appeared at several Norwegian festivals and won prizes in competitions. She also composes and has bees awarded the Ånun Lund Rej Prize for her creativity as both a composer and a musician. The prize aims to promote female composers.
“You have a unique presence. Take chances. Fill the space” said the jury of the national broadcasting company’s competition for young classical music talents, Virtuos. At 15, Alma was the youngest of the four finalists – and her interpretation of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and rondo capriccioso op. 28 convinced the jury that she was to represent Norway at the Eurovision Young Musicians competition in France last month: “The level of this competition was very high. The winner displays mature playing and musical expression, is technically brilliant, and has a surprising musical force. In addition, she radiates charisma.” Alma has already played as a soloist with several orchestras, participated in festivals, and won awards – in addition to composing, and being rewarded with the Ånun Lund Rej prize for promoting female composers.
