Young Voices

Bergen National Opera began its UngeStemmer project in 2011, inviting leading bass-baritone and teacher Simon Kirkbride to direct a mentoring project for young Hordaland-based singers studying overseas. The aim was to oversee the development of young artists throughout their conservatoire studies, to assist their adjustment to away-from-home living to big city life, to monitor their studies and ultimately to provide opportunities in appropriate BNO projects as their training advanced.

Since then, Unge Stemmer have been integral to BNO ́s Mimi Goes Glamping festival, have worked with Edvard Grieg Ungdomskor, and have beeninvolved in a range of projects in Bergen, Amsterdam, Leeds and Manchester. Currently nine young singers are involved in the scheme, with two now undertaking master studies.

In 2017, BNO and Edvard Grieg Kor decided to combine their leadership of Unge Stemmer, with EGK taking responsibility for the earlier years of study, and BNO creating a Developing Artist strand which will embrace master students and a number of selected artists at the start of their professional careers.

Currently our Young Voices are studying at conservatoires including Leeds, Manchester and Amsterdam. The overall programme is led by the distinguished bass-baritone, Simon Kirkbride.

Unge Stemmer / Young Voices

Susanna Yttri Solsrud / Soprano
Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Unge Stemmer since 2015.

Elizaveta Agrafenina / Soprano
Studerer ved musikkonservatoriet i Amsterdam (master). Unge Stemmer since 2015.

Kristin Frivold / Soprano
Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Unge Stemmer siden 2015.

Ingvild Schultze-Florey / Mezzo-soprano
Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Unge Stemmer since 2013.

Marita Lervik / Soprano
Leeds College of Music. Unge Stemmer since 2015.

Einar Stefánsson / Bass
Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Unge Stemmer since 2016.

Martina Starr-Lassen / Soprano
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Unge Stemmer since 2013.

Helene Trones / Soprano
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Unge Stemmer since 2019.

Stian Økland / Tenor
Wales International Academy of Voice. Unge Stemmer since 2019.