Percussion student Christoffer Breman wins Sweden’s Soloist Prize 2026
The Soloist Prize has been awarded every other year since 1993, most recently on Saturday, 7 February 2026, when the final took place at the Gothenburg Concert Hall with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Anna-Maria Helsing. The national competition is open to singers and instrumentalists within classical music. In addition to percussionist Christoffer Breman, the finalists were violinists Lorenz Karls and Marcus Bäckerud. Christoffer Breman won the first prize with his performance of ‘Arena’ by Tobias Broström.
The jury commented on Christoffer Breman’s award: “The winner has taken us on a musical journey with his joy of playing, responsive ensemble work, virtuosic technique, and commanding stage presence. We look forward to following his career for many years to come.”
“The weekend has been an emotional rollercoaster! It was absolutely amazing to perform with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra – from the first rehearsal to the final note of the concert! It feels incredible to receive this prize and to be recognized by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Being only the third percussionist to receive this award in 30 years – after two percussionists I have always looked up to – is completely surreal!” says Christoffer Breman.
Christoffer Breman was born in 2000 in Stockholm, where he began his musical education at Lilla Akademien. He is currently completing his master’s degree at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, studying with Anders Kann Elten, David Hildebrandt, and Johan Bridger.
“Christoffer Breman is an exceptional young musician who always strives for perfection in his art. Through enormous dedication, natural talent, and countless hours of practice, he has become a highly sought-after soloist as well as a chamber and orchestral musician. With growing success in recent years, Christoffer Breman has now taken a major step by winning Sweden’s most prestigious competition for young classical musicians — the Soloist Prize 2026,” says RDAM percussion professor Johan Bridger.
The first prize includes 150,000 SEK, two chamber music tours, a tour with Musica Vitae, as well as solo performances with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, and Norrbotten Chamber Orchestra.
Read more about Soloist Prize 2026
Read more about Christoffer Breman and the jury’s comments
Photo: Lova Wallerö
