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ODENSE, DENMARK

Emotional triumph in Odense

Competitions

Carl Nielsen International Competition celebrates its 2026 Flute winners

Founded in honor of Denmark's greatest composer, the Carl Nielsen International Competition, organized by the Odense Symphony Orchestra, rotates between flute, violin, and clarinet, serving as an important launching pad for emerging artists while celebrating Carl Nielsen's enduring musical legacy. Featuring the flute this year, the Carl Nielsen International Flute Competition took place from June 8 to 16, 2026, bringing together some of the most promising young flutists from around the world. It concluded in Odense with Italian flutist Federico Altare taking First Prize.

Prize winners; Ethan Nylander , Federico Altare, Sofía Patterson-Gutíerrez

The finalists Federico Altare, Sofía Patterson-Gutiérrez, and Ethan Nylander performed with the Odense Symphony Orchestra in the final round, each playing Carl Nielsen's Flute Concerto, FS 119, alongside Mozart's Rondo in C major, KV 373. Federico Altare won the first prize, receiving a cash prize of €12,000, alongside a further €1,500 for the Orchestra Prize. In addition, he will receive a concert engagement with the Odense Symphony Orchestra and a video portrait that he can use for promotional purposes. He is a graduate of the Paris and Rotterdam Conservatories, Altare won 4th prize at the Larrieu Competition. He performs with various ensembles across Europe, including the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra and Les Arts Florissants, and he is presently co-director of the Festival Florilège d’Été.

Federico Altare, first prize winner

Second Prize of €9,000 went to Sofía Patterson-Gutiérrez, who also won the Junior Jury Prize of €1,500. Sofía is currently studying with Michael Cox at the Royal Academy of Music, where she holds a full scholarship kindly supported by the Calleva Foundation Award. Third Prize of €6,000 went to Ethan Nylander, who currently holds the assistant principal flute position with the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen in Germany.

Sofía Patterson-Gutiérrez, performing with the Odense Symphony Orchestra and Anna-Maria Helsing (Conductor)

Founded in the late 1970s by Odense Symphony Orchestra's then Chief Conductor Karol Stryja, concertmaster Peder Elbæk, and Mayor Verner Dalskov, the Carl Nielsen International Competition held its first violin edition in 1980, later adding clarinet (1997) and flute (1998), which now rotate every edition. Violin, clarinet, and flute are the instruments for which Carl Nielsen wrote a concerto, and the competition aims to deepen awareness of Nielsen's music and inspire new generations to take up an instrument and share in the joy of making music.

Ever since 1980, Odense Symphony Orchestra has hosted the Carl Nielsen International Competition, providing public funding and, most importantly, the participation of the orchestra at the final concerts and other events during the competition. The competition remains a significant part of the orchestra's Nielsen profile.


 

Award :
First Prize : Federico Altare (29), Paris
Second Prize: Sofía Patterson-Gutíerrez (21), London
Third Prize: Ethan Nylander (25), Freiburg

Jury :
Sophie Cherrier(Chair), András Adorján, Petri Alanko, Silvia Careddu, Guoliang Han, Brit Halvorsen, Rune Most

Artists :
Odense Symphony Orchestra/ Anna-Maria Helsing (Conductor)

© WFIMC 2026