A worthy winner Halvdan Sivertsen bid on the song “Herod's Men” and donated the cash prize of NOK 50 000 to MSF for its work in Gaza

The jury's reasoning:
It is difficult to imagine a Norwegian musical life without the power, creativity and resourcefulness that Northern Norwegian artists contribute and have contributed over decade after decade. Both young and established artists from our region create music and experiences that touch and inspire on large and small stages across the country. Some become so significant that they redefine trends and genres.

This year's laureate, however, is in a class of its own.

Like so many other good things that come from the north, such as large parts of Bodø-Glimt, it is also no surprise that this year's laureate was born in Tromsø. However, this year's laureate was quick to get away from here, and has both grown up and spent most of her adult life in Bodø.

In retrospect, this probably wasn't so stupid. The award winner can look back on all 6 Spellemannpriser, has released 17 albums in their own name, and contributed to over 150 other releases. We are talking about an artist who for decades has been considered one of Norway's most popular vice artists and entertainers; who in 2020 was inducted into the Rockheim Hall of Fame, who in 2021 was appointed Commander of the Order of St. Olav, and who has even received his own stamp.

Several of his visions have turned into immortal classics for an entire nation. In fact, it is rare that graduations, weddings, funerals or anniversaries take place without at least one of his songs being included among the anthems.

And speaking of anniversary: The artist we're talking about is himself jubilant. He turned 75 on January 5 this year.

After and graduated from Bodø Gymnas in 1968, he took teacher training at Bodø Teachers College which he completed in 1973. He then took an undergraduate degree in Nordic language and literature in Bodø in 1974, a music major at Nesna Lærerhøgskole in 1975, and an intermediate course in music at the University of Trondheim in 1976. From 1976 to 1980 he worked at Bodø School of Music, first as a teacher, then as an inspector, and finally as a principal.

The fact that in 1980 he quit Bodø School of Music in order to invest one hundred percent in his career as an artist did not come as a bomb. In 1979 he had a major breakthrough with his third release, Nordaførr. The album sold over 20,000 copies, and many people are familiar with tracks such as Kjærskapsvisa and Nordaførr — Vårvisa.

From then on, he hasn't looked back. Critically acclaimed album releases and new vice treasures have arrived like pearls on a string -- and they just keep coming.

His first Spellemannpris came in 1981 for the album Liv Laga, and in 1985 he received Spellemannpris for the album Amerika. Since then, it has also been awarded Spellemannprisen for the albums Doubt, Hope and Love from 2001 and Between Us from 2008. During the period 1988—1994 he was central to the supergroup Gitarkameratene together with Jan Eggum, Lillebjørn Nilsen and Øystein Sunde, a collaboration that also resulted in two

Fiddler Awards in 1991. A number of other awards have underlined the importance of his career as an artist.

He has both had his own TV show, and been a children's TV uncle with Labbetuss in the early 80s. With Elias's vignette and participation in Every Time We Meet on TV2, younger generations have also gained a close relationship with this year's laureate. With a career that is unparalleled in Norwegian music life, it is also remarkable and worth highlighting that he has constantly resided in Bodø.

He has been an important part of and contributor to the musical life of Northern Norway, and his love for Northern Norway is once again a common thread throughout much of his production.

There's really no reason to believe that there's still anyone in the room who hasn't begun to know who the 36th recipient of the Northern Lights Award is — but let's state it once and for all:

It is a great pleasure and honor to award the Northern Lights Prize 2025 to Halvdan Johannes Falch Sivertsen!

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Jury's rationale

The best thing about giving out the Northern Lights Prize is that the region is full of artists and performers at a very, very high level. Day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year, they make a difference on and off the stage. Over time, they show how important they are to the environment around them. At the same time, their artistic work arouses a stir both in the region and at the national and international levels.

When today we are going to hand out the 35th. The Northern Lights award in the series, it is precisely to such a musician who makes a difference. We are talking about a musician who has not only had an impressive solo career with 5 record releases of his own, but who has also participated in 11 other album releases within a variety of genres and expressions. At the same time, the laureate has highlighted others around him, both as an educator and as a bandleader. As a composer and arranger, the laureate has also made a name for himself with works for both large and small ensembles, several of which for television.

This year's laureate was born in Gjøvik, also called “the white city at Mjøsa” — but he grew up in Tromsø. After a few years of study at the Conservatory of Music in Tromsø, he went to the United States — where in 2003 he completed his master's degree in Jazz Performance at Western Michigan University. Back in Tromsø, it didn't take long for him to revive Tromsø Storband, a band that turns 20 this year.

As bandleader of the big band, he has made sure to bring to Tromsø some of the most renowned jazz artists in Norway and the world, thanks to his own talent and his vast network of contacts: not only Randy Brecker, whom we will hear today, but also artists such as Bob Mintzer, Nils Landgren, Lisa Simone, Petter Wettre, Geir Lysne and Karin Krog.

It's not just calling such world stars and expecting them to line up. The artists have said yes, because they have been assured that there is realism and quality behind the requests. In this way he has brought the world to Tromsø, an inspiration for both young northern Norwegian talents, as well as other big bands and jazz players in the region. In this way, he has shown that it is possible to create legendary jazz experiences in Tromsø, with local musicians. The big band has thus also been an arena where several young musicians from Tromsø have been able to develop, and have been able to start their performing careers. It was therefore also not surprising that last year he was awarded the prestigious Big Band Prize by the Norsk Jazzforum for his tireless work.

His own solo career is also impressive, with regular tours around the country, with both his own music and renowned soloists. He also often collaborates with pop artists and rock bands, not least the Arctic Philharmonic and the Hærens Musikkorps i Harstad. He is a natural choice as an arranger and bandleader in larger crossover productions, and the list of artists he has worked with is long.

Since 2007 he has been a university lecturer at the Conservatory of Music in Tromsø, where he has taught jazz saxophone, also called rhythmic sax, arranging and composing, ensemble conducting, improvisation, chamber music, and led the Conservatory's own big band. Seeing how several of his former students have established themselves at a high level after graduation, there is no doubt that his trademark as a positive and knowledgeable communicator has been a great inspiration to others.

Over several years he has been the section leader for rhythmical, that is, the part of the Conservatory of Music that does not work with classical music, but with jazz and adjacent genres. As part of his work at the Conservatory of Music, he has also been the driving force for a circumpolar world ensemble, called The UArctic World Ensemble, with ramifications to both North America and Russia.

In other words, there is much to suggest that we also have plenty more to look forward to in the years to come, from an award winner who constantly delivers exciting projects of sky-high quality.

It is therefore a great pleasure and honour to award the Northern Lights Prize 2024 to Fred Glesnes. Northern Norway and Tromsø have every reason to be proud and grateful for the work you do.

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2010 - Bodvar Drotninhaug Moe

2011 - Marit Sandvik

2012 - Inga Juuso

2013 - Nils Anders Mortensen

2014 - Anne-Lise Sollied Allemano

2015 - Ragnar Olsen

2016 - Ketil Vea and Sigmund Lillebjerg

2017 - Terje Nilsen

2018 — Ragnhild Furebotten

2019 - Roger Ludvigsen

2020 - Jens Christian Monastery

2021 -Ola Graff

2022 -Erika Toth

2023 - Lars “Poppa Lars” Sandness

2000 - Arvid Engegård

2001 - Malfred Hanssen

2002 - Knut Erik Sundquist

2003 - Ingor Ante Áilo Gaup

2004 - Ola Bremnes

2005 - Susanne Lundeng

2006 - Jan Gunnar Hoff

2007 - Anneli Drecker

2008 - Ragnar Rasmussen

2009 - Marianne Beate Kielland

1989 - Håkon Stødle

1990 - Paul Wåhlberg

1991 - Tori Stødle

1992 - Tove Karoline Knutsen

1993 - Arne Dagsvik

1994 - Big Boine

1995 - Bear Andor Dragon

1996 - Bjarte Engeset

1997 - Arne Bjørhei

1998 - Henning Gravrok

1999 -Geir Jensen