Sonoko Miriam Welde is one of the most exciting young violinists to emerge from Norway in recent years. Born in Bergen in 1996 she made her debut with the Bergen Philharmonic aged nine and has since gone on to win the Norwegian Soloist Prize and Virtuos competition, as well as representing Norway in the European Broadcasting Union’s Young Musicians Competition. She is currently on the Crescendo programme, being mentored by Janine Jansen, and a recipient of a Statoil Talent Scholarship.
Her appearances include concertos with Oslo Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic, Trondheim Symphony, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony, Combattimento Consort Amsterdam, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Kremerata Baltica, Zagreb Soloists, Oslo Camerata, and the Estonian Chamber Orchestra with conductors including Andrew Litton, Johannes Gustavsson, Peter Szilvay, Joshua Weilerstein, and Edward Gardner.
An enthusiastic chamber musician, Sonoko has been championed by Leif Ove Andsnes, with whom she performs regularly, and has also worked with Tabea Zimmermann, Clemens Hagen, Sergio Tiempo, Enrico Pace and Itamar Golan. She appears frequently at the Bergen International Festival and has given recitals at Grachtenfestival Amsterdam, Risør Chamber Music Festival, ArtLink Belgrade, Oslo Chamber Music Festival, Bad Ragaz “Next Generation” Festival, Harpa Festival Reykjavik, Rosendal Festival, and Norsjø Chamber Music Festival.
Sonoko currently studies with Janine Jansen in Switzerland, and formerly studied with Stephan Barratt-Due in Oslo and Kolja Blacher at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin. She has also benefitted from regular lessons with Vilde Frang and Henning Kraggerud.
She plays a 1714 Alessandro Gagliano kindly on loan from Dextra Musica.
This biography is for information only and should not be reproduced.
Tchaikovsky's 'Souvenir d'un lieu cher' with Stavanger Symphony Orchestra
Stavanger, June 2020
She impressed with a wide colour palette in her silky violin playing, especially her mature richness in the lowest and highest registers, as well as the rhythmic virtuosity in the middle movement
Eirik Lodén, Stavanger Aftenblad
Bergen Festival Online chamber concerts with Leif Ove Andsnes and Crescendo
May 2020
Youth and experience perfectly blended in three outstanding chamber concerts... the Crescendo performers excelled themselves in the second concert, from the state-of-the-art small hall built on Grieg’s Troldhaugen estate with its window out on to trees and water... stylishness and elegance in Mozart’s “Hunt” Quartet – Welde properly found her well-turned feet for the sudden depths of the Adagio... We had Welde and Gudim in a wide-ranging selection of violin duos from Bartók’s set of 44, the pair’s sparkling engagement and eye-contact a joy to watch.
David Nice, The Arts Desk *****
Barber Violin Concerto with Joshua Weilerstein & the Oslo Philharmonic
Filharmonien Oslo, Feb 2019
There are so many young Norwegian musicians who hold such a high level that I could almost call it a miracle. But I will not because I do not want to reduce Sonoko Miriam Welde to just one of many. Her way of making music in Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto op. 14 is effortless, fervent, natural, convincing and virtuosic.
Magnus Andersson, Klassekampen
Brahms Piano Quartet in A major -alongside Leif Ove Andsnes, Tabea Zimmermann and Clemens Hagen
Oslo Opera House (April 2016)
Christian Tetzlaff was replaced by young Sonoko Miriam Welde , Virtuos winner of 2014 and this 19 year-old is already an established soloist . Welde convinced to such a degree that we quickly forgot that she was a substitute. We look forward to following her for many, many years to come.
Tori Skrede, Verdens Gang
One might think that such a young musician would be the weak link the ensemble, but instead, she made the concert one of those rare highlights… Andsnes, who had played the Brahms with her before, knew exactly what he was working with. She lifted the music to unpredictable heights and drove it to the final chord through a plethora of emotions.
Astrid Kvalbein, Aften Posten
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3
Norwegian National Youth Orchestra (August 2014)
It was a delight to hear Welde's natural contact/relation with her instrument.
Magnus Andersson, Klassekampen
Bruch Violin Concerto at Virtuos Norwegian Broadcasting Competition
Norwegian Radio Orchestra (February 2014)
The winner demonstrates a physical and technical surplus and has a natural, effortless relationship with her instrument. She has a great understanding of the different characteristics of the piece - and shows a special ability for making music together with the orchestra and to capture the audience (and jury) with an infectious presence.
Virtuos Jury 2014
Sonoko Miriam Welde Concerto Repertoire
| J.S BACH | Concerto for Oboe and Violin in D minor, BWV 1060 |
|---|---|
| BARBER | Violin Concerto, Op. 14 |
| BRUCH | Violin Concerto in G minor, Op. 26 |
| MENDELSSOHN | Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 |
| MOZART | Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K216 |
| PIAZZOLLA | Four Seasons (arr. Leonid Desyatnikov) |
| PROKOFIEV | Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19 |
| SIBELIUS | Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 |
| SINDING | Suite in A minor, Op. 10 |
| TCHAIKOVSKY | Souvenir d’un lieu cher, Op. 42 |
| VIVALDI | Four Seasons |
Sonoko Miriam Welde Chamber Repertoire
| J.S BACH | Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 |
|---|---|
| BEETHOVEN | Sonata No. 1 in D major, Op. 12 |
| BRAHMS | Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78 |
| CHAUSSON | Poème, Op. 25 |
| DEBUSSY | Sonata in G minor, L140 |
| DVORAK ARR. KREISLER | Songs My Mother Taught Me |
| ELGAR | Sonata in E minor, Op. 82 |
| GRIEG | Sonata No. 1 in F major, Op. 8 |
| HANDEL ARR. HALVORSEN | Passacaglia for Violin and Viola or Cello |
| KREISLER | Liebesleid, Tempo di Menuetto, etc |
| R. SCHUMANN | Sonata No. 1 in A minor, Op. 105 |
| SINDING | Suite in A minor, Op. 10 |
| THOMMESSEN | Cantabile (Etude-Cadenza) |
| YSAYE | Sonata No.4 in E Minor, “Fritz Kreisler” |
