Eric Ericson Award
The Eric Ericson Award is one of the world's most prestigious competitions for young choral conductors. With international brilliance, high artistic ambitions and a strong foundation in Eric Ericson's legacy, the award gives the next generation of conductors a unique springboard towards an international career.
The Eric Ericson Award is the world’s foremost competition for choral conductors under the age of 36. The winner receives SEK 100,000 in prize money and is offered the opportunity to conduct ten productions with some of the leading media choirs of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The competition is organised by Berwaldhallen, the Concert Hall of Swedish Radio, in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, with support from the Rosenborg Gehrman Foundation and EBU. The most recent edition took place in 2024.
In 2027, the Eric Ericson Award will be held for the sixth time. The competition aims to identify, encourage and support young, exceptionally gifted choral conductors in the spirit of Eric Ericson. Its ambition is to maintain an artistic standard that reflects the international stature attained by Eric Ericson himself and to provide the winners with long-term opportunities for a successful international career in the choral field.
About the Eric Ericson Award
The Eric Ericson Award (EEA) was established on the initiative of Stefan Parkman at Uppsala University. The first competitions were held in 2003, 2006 and 2009 and were organised by the Uppsala University Choral Centre, the Eric Ericson International Choral Centre, Swedish Radio and Concerts Sweden (Rikskonserter), with prize money from the Eric Ericson Foundation.
After a hiatus, the competition was resumed in 2021 on the initiative of Swedish Radio’s Berwaldhallen in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Today, the Eric Ericson Award is an internationally recognised competition that attracts young conductors from all over the world and is planned to take place every three years.
New 2027
Applicants from outside Europe who are selected for the semi-finals in Stockholm can apply for a travel grant of up to SEK 10 000 from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.
Facts about the competition
The Eric Ericson Award is open to choral conductors who are no older than 35 at the time of application and who turn 36 no earlier than during the year the competition is held. The repertoire consists of Western art music, with a particular focus on contemporary Swedish choral music.
After the application deadline, submissions are reviewed by a selection committee made up of experienced choral conductors and choral educators. Eight participants are selected for the final round, which takes place at Berwaldhallen in Stockholm.
The winner is chosen by an international jury of leading choral conductors and previous prize winners. The 2027 jury consists of Sofi Jeannin, Anders Eby, Marc Korovitch, Lars Johansson Brissman, and former EEA laureates Kjetil Almenning, Krista Audere and Martina Batič.
In addition to the opportunity to work with several of Europe’s leading radio choirs, the winner receives a prize of 100,000 SEK, donated by the Rosenborg Gehrman Foundation. The second and third prize winners each receive a scholarship of 25,000 SEK.
Repertoire
The repertoire is drawn from the classical, Romantic and contemporary periods of Western art music. Swedish and Nordic music in general plays a special role in the competition. The intention is to select works of similar length and comparable level of difficulty and, above all, works that offer inspiring challenges for the competing conductors – challenges that also enable the jury to make clear and fair assessments.
- Learn more and Apply!How it works
EEA 2027 will take place in two phases: a pre-selection phase based on recordings, and final rounds in Stockholm October 20–23, with eight semi-finalists and three finalists.
Last day to apply is 1 February 2027.
Read moreAbout Eric EricsonEric Ericson served as the music director of the Swedish Radio Choir for more than 30 years and made immeasurable contributions to Swedish and international choral life. By premiering works by his contemporary composers, many written specifically for him and the Swedish Radio Choir, he opened up a whole new dimension for how a choir can sound and be led.
Print itPrint a poster!Spread the message on your local bulletin board.
EEA Jury 2027
Chair:
Sofi Jeannin Chief Conductor, BBC Singers & Ars Nova Copenhagen, and Director of Music, La Maîtrise de Radio France
Kjetil Almenning Director of Music, Bergen Cathedral & Bergen Church Festival (Bergen kirkeautunnale)
Krista Audere choral conductor, VU-Kamerkoor & Kamerkoor Venusmain; winner of the Eric Ericson Award 2021
Anders Eby choral conductor, Professor of Choral Conducting, founder of the Mikaeli Chamber Choir
Martina Batič Chief Conductor of the Danish National Vocal Ensemble in Copenhagen and of Coro Gulbenkian in Lisbon. Winner of the Eric Ericson Award 2006
Marc Korovitch Chief Conductor, Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra & Orchestre Colonne (Paris); Chorus Master of the Swedish Radio Choir and Principal Guest Conductor of the RTVE Symphony Orchestra
Lars Johansson Brissman bass with the Swedish Radio Choir and opera singer (baritone)
Read more about the jury
Sofi Jeannin, photo: Patrick Allen
Executive Committee
Staffan Becker Chair
Bengt Arwén Competition Director
Fredrik Wetterqvist Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Stefan Forsberg Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Helene Stureborg Program Director, Swedish Radio Choir
Linnéa Brorson Project manager
Selection Committee
Chair:
Mats Paulson lecturer in choral conducting
Lone Larsen professor of choral conducting
Jan Yngwe professor of choral conducting
Karin Oldgren lecturer in choral conducting
Fredrik Malmberg professor of choral conducting
Florian Benfer lecturer in choral conducting
Jerica Bukovec choral conductor
Learn more about themPrevious winnersPrevious winners of the Eric Ericson Award are Peter Dijkstra (2003), Martina Batič (2006), Kjetil Almenning (2009), Krista Audere (2021), and Alexander Lüken 2024.
Alexander Lüken from Germany – winner of the Eric Ericson Award 2024Alexander Lüken earned a bachelor's degree in music in 2010 from the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln and later obtained a master's degree in conducting from the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar. He frequently works with ensembles such as ChorWerk Ruhr, the Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra, and the Cologne Radio Choir, where he holds the role of assistant conductor.
Alexander competed in the finals against Heide Müller from Germany and Marcel Ortega in Martí, Spain.
Eric Ericson Awards 2027 is proudly supported by:
European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Rosenborg Gehrman Foundation (providing the prize money)
Upcoming Concerts with The Swedish Radio Choir
12 September80 - 275 krMatre’s Orphic Songs with the Swedish Radio Choir
In the powerful acoustics of Storkyrkan, the Swedish Radio Choir and Alexander Lüken, winner of the 2024 Eric Ericson Award, open the door to a timeless sound universe where ritual, myth and spirituality meet.
26 September275 krBlossom, Root, and Resonance
In the Historical Museum’s Baroque Hall, the innermost resonance of voice meets the roots of Central European choral tradition. Under the direction of Zoltán Pad, the Swedish Radio Choir delves into music of Johannes Brahms,, Max Reger, Péter Zombola, Zoltán Kodály and György Kurtág.
10 October275 krMusic in memory of — with the Swedish Radio Choir & Dijkstra
In a concert that rests in silence and comfort, Honorary Conductor Peter Dijkstra leads the Swedish Radio Choir through a program created...
Few seats remaining6–7 November170 - 560 krVerdi’s Requiem
One of the most magnificent and moving works in music history fills Berwaldhallen as Roberto González-Monjas conducts the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra,...
21 November275 krThe Order of the Virtues with the Swedish Radio Choir — Doyle conduct’s MacMillan & von Bingen
Hildegard von Bingen's medieval visions are given new light through James MacMillan's monumental Ordo Virtutum (Order of the Vices) when the Swedish Radio Choir takes to the Berwaldhallen stage together with Justin Doyle and percussionists from the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
8-9 janEpiphany Concert 2027
Ring out the old and sing in the new with the Berwaldhallen’s festive Epiphany concert!
6 February80 - 275 krSong of the Stars with the Swedish Radio Choir — Music by Villa-Lobos, Sandström, Ferrer & Granados
The Swedish Radio Choir fills Storkyrkan with music that moves between quiet mystery and radiant splendour under the direction of Marc Korovitch.
12–13 March130 - 475 krSpring Fire with Orozco-Estrada & Byström
Spring is lit in Berwaldhallen when Chief Conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada leads the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Swedish Radio Choir in...
17 aprilThe Swedish Radio Choir sings Passio secundum Matthaeum
Olof Boman leads The Swedish Radio Choir in a performance of B. Tommy Andersson’s Passio secundum Matthaeum.
23–24 April170 - 560 krBeethoven's Missa Solemnis
Beethoven's Missa solemnis is one of classical music's most magnificent spiritual works – a monumental creation where heartfelt prayer meets dramatic power. When the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Swedish Radio Choir, and the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir unite under the direction of conductor Petr Popelka, this powerful mass is given new life in Berwaldhallen.