Detailed CV
The Norwegian cellist Frida Fredrikke Waaler Wærvågen (b. 1988) began playing cello at the age of 5 at her local music school in Horten. In 1998 she became a student at the Barratt-Due Music Institute in Oslo. For six years, she studied with Prof. Aage Kvalbein.
In the autumn of 2007, Frida Fredrikke began studying under Prof. Truls Mørk at the Norwegian Academy of Music. During the school year 2008/2009 she was an exchange student at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne with Prof. Frans Helmerson.
Frida Fredrikke has participated in masterclasses and courses with David Geringas, Ralph Kirschbaum, Miklos Perényi, Erling B. Bengtson, Luis Claret, Torleif Thedéen, Frans Helmerson and Andrew Manze.
Since the age of 11, Frida Fredrikke has won first prices and Honorary awards in several international and national competitions; "Young Musician" in Tallinn, Estonia, A. Janigro International Cello Competition in Porec, Croatia, Sparre Olsen and Youth Championships, Norway. She has also received several awards and scholarships, including Ånun Lund Rej Memorial Fund, Kavli Prize, Arve Tellefsen Music Prize and RWE Dea Music Scholarship. Frida Fredrikke has made her mark as a soloist with professional orchestras at home and abroad such as the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, the Royal Norwegian Navy Band, Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Kaunas Philharmonic and the National Honoured Academic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. She has held recitals both solo and with chamber music groups at festivals like Hardanger Music Festival, Oslo Chamber Music Festvival, Chamber Music in Stavern ,Bergen and Vestfold International Festivals.
Currently Frida Fredrikke participates in two chamber music groups. A piano trio with Sara Övinge, violin and Natallia Papova, piano, and a string quartet with Sara Övinge, violin, Maria Angelica Carlsen, violin and Ellen Nisbeth, viola. Both groups received 1.prices in a chamber music competition at the Norwegian Academy of Music in January 2010. also participates regularly in string orchestras like Ensemble Allegria, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and Risør Festival Strings.
Frida Fredrikke is considered to be one of Norway´s greatest talents in classical music. A cello made by Fernando Sacconi in 1917, is lent to her by Dextra Musica, Norway.
Prices:
1999: 1st price in the “Sparre-Olsen Competition”, Class I, Gjøvik.
2000: 1st price in the Royal Norwegian Navy Band’s Music Competition, Horten.
2000: 2nd price in the Norwegian Youth String Competition, Class II, Oslo.
2001: 1st price and Honorary Price in the “Sparre-Olsen Competition”, Class II and
Diploma for “Best presentation of a Sparre-Olsen composition”, Gjøvik.
2002: Received the Horten Culture Scholarship.
2002: 1st price, Cello B, and the Honorary price “The Conductors Award” in “Young Musician”, Tallinn, Estonia. She also received diplomas for “Best performance of a masterly piece” and “Outstanding style”.
2002: Scholarship from the “Ånun Lund Rej Memorial Fond”.
2002: 1st price Cello Class II at the Norwegian Youth Music Competition, Oslo.
2003: The “Talent Price 2003” in a competition given by the Norwegian Television program “Good Music Year”, Trondheim.
2004: 1st price and the special award “The Dubrovnik Summer Festival Award” in the “Antonio Janigro Cllo Competition” in Porec, Croatia.
2004: Awarded “Musician of the year” during the Youth Musician Competition, Oslo
1st price Cello class III (top score)
1st price Ensemble class with “Trio Brio” (top score)
1st price Duo class (with André Hæhre)
2005: “The Kavli Price” and “The Kavli Audience Price”, as a soloist with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.
2005: “The Arve Tellefsen Music Price” for 2005, Stavern.
2006: Finalist in the National EBU competition “Virtuos”, Oslo.
2006: Selected for the TV program “The Big Chance”, for talented youths, Oslo.
Frida Fredrikke has been soloist with these orchestras:
- Nov. 2000: The Royal Norwegian Navy Band,
- Jan. 2002: Romerike and Gjøvik Symphony Orchestras,
- Feb. 2002: Barratt Due Symphony Orchestra,
- April 2002: Tallin Chamber Orchestra,
- Dec. 2002: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, 5 Christmas concerts
- Jan. 2002: Zurich Chamber Orchestra,
- April 2003: Vestfold Symphony Orchestra,
- April 2003: Barratt Due Junior Orchestra,
- Sep. 2003: Collegium Musicum, Bergen,
- Jan. 2005: Norwegian Broadcasting Symphony orchestra, (The Elgar)
- Mar. 2005 Bergen Philhormonic Orchestra (The Elgar)
- Apr. 2005 Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra (The Elgar)
- Apr. 2005 Kaunas Philharmonic (The Elgar)
- May 2005: Junior Orchestra during the Hardanger Music Festival Week. (Tsjaikovskij)
- July 2005: The National Honoured Academic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraina. (The Elgar)
- Sept 2005: The Barratt Due Symphony Orchestra (The Elgar)
- March 2006: The Royal Norwegian Navy Band (Rococo Variations)
- March 2006: Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra. Finalist in the National
EBU(European Broadcasting Union) “Virtuos” competition (Haydn, Cmaj)
- April 2006: Buskerud Youth Symphony Orchestra. (Rococo).
- April 2006: Rundfunkorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Münchner Rundfunksorchestra.
EMCY Concert. (Tchaikowsky Rococo Var.) Conductor Gerd Albrect.
- June 2006 Soloist with BD Junior orchestra at the Hardanger Festival.
- July 2006 Rundfunkorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks/Münchner Rundfunksorchestra,
CD-production (Johan Christian Bach celloconcert).
- Sept. 2006 Soloist with BD Junior orchestra in St. John Smith’s Square and Wigmore Hall, UK (Tsjaikovskij: Andante Cantabile)
- Des. 2006 Soloist with BD Junior Orchestra in Oslo.
- Feb. 2007: Soloist with Oslo Symphony Orchestra performing a newly written cello concert by Kjell Mørk Karlsen (dedicated to Frida).
- Aug. 2007: Soloist with Halsnøy Youth Symphony Orchestra in the Grieg Hall, Bergen.
(Schostakovitsj cello concert no. 1)
- Sept. 2007: Soloist with B.D. Symphony Orchestra in the Oslo Concert Hall.
- July 2008: Soloist with Vestfold Youth Orchestra during the Vestfold International Festival.
- January 2010: Soloist with The Norwegian Academy symphony orchestra. (Brahms double concerto)
Other tasks:
- Played in Euro Debut in Marl, Germany March 2003, (Grieg: Cello sonata in A minor).
- Given concerts during Oslo Chamber Music Festival(2005,2006), Stavern Chamber Music Festival (2005,2006), Hardanger Music Festival(2001,2005,2006) and Bergen Music Festival(2004,2006).
- London tour with the Barratt Due Music Institute. Soloist at Wigmore Hall and St. John’s Smith Square.
- Concert and TV production with Oslo Camerata. (2007)
- Master class during Kronberg Cello Festival 2005 (Ralph Kirchbaum), 2006 (Frans Helmerson), 2007 (David Geringas)
- Tour with the Norwegian violinist Arve Tellefsen and “Rikskonsertene”
- February 2010: Project with the Norwegain Chamber Orchestra, leader: Terje Tønnesen
- May 2010: Solo Recital during Bergen Music Festival, Norway.
- June 2010: Participant in Risør Festival Strings during Festival in Risør. A tour will follow in Nov/Dec in Brüssels, London and New York.
Courses:
1998-2008: Valdres Summer Symphony (Master classes, Festival orchestra, Chamber
Music)
2000, 2001,2003,2004:Norwegian Youth Symphony Orchestra (NUSO)
2000,02,03,04,05: “Happy Music Year”, projects, NUSO.
2002,2003,2004: Margess International, Switzerland. 3 weeks summer course.
(Individual lessons, chamber music, orchestra).
2005, July: “Musica Mundi” Chamber Music course in Brussels (2 weeks).
2005 - 2007: Kronberg Academy. Master classes with Ralph Kirchbaum, Frans Helmerson and David Geringas.
2005 - 2009: Summer course at Voksenåsen, Oslo, with prof. E. Bløndal Bengtson and Torleif Thedéen and Andrew Manze. (Master classes, string-orchestra)
2007: The Schleswig Holstein Music Festival. Master classes with Mr. Miklas Perényi.
2008: Course/master classes in Piteå, Sverige, with F. Helmerson.
2009: Music Alp in Courchevel, France with Frans Helmerson (2 weeks)
2009: European Music Institute, Montepulciano, Italy with Frans Helmerson