Eva Steinaa receives prestigious award

After the break between sections of Saturday's concert with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Julie Borgwardt-Stampe, member of the board of the Beckett Foundation, and Mogens Rubinstein, chairman of the Friends, took to the stage in the Concert Hall to present the Peter Varming Memorial Grant 2025 to principal solo oboist Eva Steinaa.

This is the 11th time this prize has been awarded to - as stated in the charter - a musician from the Danish National Symphony Orchestra who, in addition to having been a member of the orchestra for an extended period of time, plays a particularly prominent role and works to constantly maintain and promote the high international level the orchestra has today.

A young talent

This is not the first time Eva Steinaa has been recognised. She has received the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize, the Norwegian Soloist Prize and the P2 Talent Prize. She started playing her instrument at the age of 9 and eight years later, at the age of 17, she was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Music. Before she finished her studies there, she got a contract with the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra.

The Peter Varming Memorial Scholarship is named after the first chairman of the Friends. In addition to being a lawyer, he was also the director of the Beckett Foundation, which is a major supporter of music in Denmark.

Colleagues are also impressed

In her motivation for awarding Eva Steinaa the prize, Julie Borgwardt-Stampe said:

- Our award winner always plays with virtuosity and a deep understanding of the music, she manages to fill the room with presence and colour without making a big fuss. Through her playing grows an artist who constantly explores the possibilities of music. And who creates music with deep love and intuition that touches and inspires both listeners and colleagues.

The same colleagues have said that when she starts playing the oboe, it's hard not to turn your head to see who is making that amazing sound. She is also praised for her musical calmness that shines through and spreads throughout the orchestra.