Sondre Moshagen Lightning Trio = Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2024!

It was Sondre Moshagen Lightning Trio who clinched the victory during the Jazzintro final at Moldejazz on Wednesday, July 17th. "Compositions of high caliber with a lot of rhythmic authority, and with melodic and harmonic ideas that give the trio a distinctive identity," says the jury, among other reasons, in their justification.

It was an exciting afternoon at Moldejazz as the four bands Bliss Quintet, Schemes, Coincidences, and Sondre Moshagen Lightning Trio competed in the Jazzintro final.

• The job today has not been easy. There has been an incredible amount of fantastic music. The future of Norwegian jazz is very bright, says Ellen Brekken on behalf of the jury. In the end, it was the Sondre Moshagen Lightning Trio who drew the longest straw and was named Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2024. With the title, the trio, consisting of Sondre Moshagen on piano, Kertu Aer on double bass, and Steinar Heide Bø on drums, receives a launch package from Norwegian Jazz Forum, including a festival tour and a tailored mentor program.
• Thank you so much, this is completely surreal. Very cool, we look forward to playing a lot in the future, said Sondre Moshagen from the stage at Storyville where the announcement was made.

In 2024, the jury consisted of musicians Ellen Brekken, Dag Arnesen, Eldbjørg Raknes, and Jakop Janssønn, in addition to Roy Jahrn Holtan, Head of Programs at Norwegian Jazz Forum, as the jury secretary.

The jury says the following about the Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2024: The Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2024 have clear and fine chemistry in the band and are strong individual voices with finesse and maturity. The compositions are of high caliber, with a lot of rhythmic authority that creates large musical spaces. Their melodic and harmonic ideas give them a distinctive identity that creates beautiful moments. The confidence and presence in the band rub off on the audience and make you curious to hear more. The Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2024 are the Sondre Moshagen Lightning Trio.

Launch Program for Young Professional Jazz Musicians
Jazzintro is a prestigious showcase and introduction arena for young, professional musicians. Many of the country's leading jazz musicians have participated in Jazzintro early in their careers, such as Mathias Eick, Anja Lauvdal, Gard Nilssen, Marius Neset, Hanna Paulsberg, and Morten Qvenild. Previous winners include Monkey Plot, Albatrosh, Puma, In the Country, Megalodon Collective, and Kongle Trio. There was a record number of applications for Jazzintro 2024, nearly double from previous years, and among hundreds of bands, eight were selected to participate. After initial rounds in Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, and Oslo, four bands advanced to the final at Moldejazz, where one was crowned Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2024. The launch of the Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2024 is in collaboration with Sparebankstiftelsen DNB and Talent Norge. The band will have an extended festival tour in Norway in 2025 and a tailored mentor program designed in collaboration with the musicians themselves. The mentor program is tailored to the musicians' wishes and needs and can include meetings with industry players for an introduction to life as a professional musician, facilitation of meeting places and networking, as well as arrangements for artistic development.

Sondre Moshagen Lightning Trio
Sondre Moshagen (Vinstra) – piano, Kertu Aer (Estonia) – double bass, Steinar Heide Bø (Trondheim) – drums Sondre Moshagen Lightning Trio is an energetic piano trio, which with lyrical melodies, beautiful harmonies, and rhythmic drive challenges the listeners. The trio explores a spectrum of styles and expressions through their own compositions, from the pop music of the '80s and intense modal jazz, to the classical art music of the 20th century. Their interplay is characterized by joy and curiosity, which allows for unexpected and creative solutions that arise in the moment. The musicians met at the jazz department in Trondheim in the autumn of 2022 and are known from bands such as PESH, ASQ, and When I Return.

Jazzintro 2024 Partners:
Bergen Jazzforum, Nasjonal jazzscene, Stavanger Jazzforum, Dokkhuset Scene, Moldejazz, Nordlysfestivalen, Bodø Jazz Open, Vossa Jazz, Maijazz, Nattjazz, Kongsberg Jazzfestival, Oslo Jazzfestival, and Sildajazz. Jazzintro is supported by Sparebankstiftelsen DNB and Talent Norge.

For more information, contact The Norwegian Jazz Forum: Roy Jahrn Holtan, Head of Program, phone +47 93 86 60 74, Aleksander Haugen, project manager, phone +47 90 60 95 93, Camilla Slaattun, communications manager, phone +47 90 51 96 38