Bjørn Mathias Tollefsen: Sandnes Bass-Baritone Honoured with WCMA Platinum Prize
- WOMCO
- 14 hours ago
- 5 min read
Bass-baritone Bjørn Mathias Tollefsen from Sandnes, Norway, has been awarded the Platinum Prize in the Age 16–17 category at the World Classical Music Awards (WCMA) 2025, Season 3. The competition took place from 21 May 2025 to 21 August 2025, with the results announced in September 2025.
This latest recognition adds to an already impressive trajectory for the 17-year-old Norwegian bass-baritone. Currently a second-year student at the music department of Vågen High School in Sandnes, specialising in classical singing, Bjørn Mathias has also spent six years at Klepp School of Culture, studying Bel Canto vocal techniques under pedagogue Anne-Margrethe Svanes, and attending master classes in Norway and Italy with Matthew Mark Marriott and Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz. A frequent soloist with symphony orchestras, choirs, and janitsjar bands in western Norway, he has performed in several full-scale operas in both Norway and Italy. His previous accolades include a Gold Medal and Platinum Prize at the World Classical Music Awards in 2023 and 2025, as well as 1st Prize at the Georges Bizet International Music Competition in 2024 and the World’s Best Musicians Competition 2025. Bjørn Mathias released his first solo CD on Spotify in 2023 and has produced nearly 100 music videos and concert performances on his YouTube channel, while also being featured frequently on local TV and media in Norway.
With such a remarkable journey already behind him, we spoke with Bjørn Mathias about his musical upbringing, his preparation for the award-winning performance, and the personal experiences that have shaped his path as a young professional opera singer.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey in music, for example the schools you’ve studied at, the teachers who have guided you, and how long you’ve been studying, as well as your goals for the future?
Bjørn Mathias Tollefsen:
"I am a 17 year old bass-baritone from Norway, and started with music when I was 4 years old at Sandnes school of culture. During the first years I played many different instruments, in many different bands and orchestras, and sang in several different choirs. But eventually I decided to specialise in classical solo song and Bel Canto style around 11, when I was invited to study under my fantastic vocal pedagogue Anne-Margrethe Svanes at Klepp school of culture, who is still my teacher and role model today. I started up as a boy soprano, but during my voice change period I made a tough but smooth transfer into a bass-baritone, thanks to very good support and follow up by my excellent teachers. Progress was swift, and soon I started to win local and international music competitions and was invited to solo performances with local janitsjar bands, choirs and symphony orchestras, and performed in several full scale operas in both Norway and Italy. I have also given many charity concerts, especially for cancer aid organisations and elderly people, and in 2023 I released my first solo CD record on Spotify and other music streaming platforms, featuring studio recordings from my boy soprano career. That same year I was admitted to a regional music talent programme here in Norway, and currently I am a 2nd year high school student at the music department of Vågen high school here in Sandnes, Norway. During the last years I have also attended several Bel Canto master classes in Norway and Italy under, amongst others, Matthew Mark Marriott and Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, and my goal is now to develop into a full scale professional opera singer under their guidance."
Could you tell us more about your award-winning vocal performance? For instance, how did you prepare for it, bring it to life, or are there any interesting behind-the-scenes stories you’d like to share?
Bjørn Mathias Tollefsen:
"The vocal programme that earned me the platinum prize at the recent WCMA competition was mostly put together during my preparations for the one week International Bel Canto Masterclass at Toneheim folk high school in Hamar, Norway this summer. I was really far too young to participate here, but was a bit surprisingly invited nevertheless by professor Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, who was teaching at the master class. This master class was also a preparation for the opera tour in Italy later that summer, which I was also invited to participate in. The opera was a full scale performance of “Don Giovanni” by Mozart, and because of this, I selected a piece from this opera in my preparations; Leporello’s hilarious catalogue aria “Madamina, il catalogo è questo”. In addition to this, my teacher also wanted me to start studying the Italian Bel Canto composer Vincenzo Bellini, so we also selected the beautiful aria “Vi Ravviso, a luoghi ameni” from his opera “La Sonnambula”. I practised at home for many months ahead of the masterclass, and was also tasked with performing this latter one at the gala concert at the end of the master class. My dad recorded it, and so it became part of the video compilation I sent over for the WCMA competition. In addition to these two opera arias, I also thought that I should present something from our own national composer Edvard Grieg, so I picked out a small part from a charity concert I had given recently to the local cancer aid organisation in my hometown Sandnes earlier this spring. It is called “Ved Rondane” and sets out the musical emotions to a national poem describing the tranquillity when wandering alone high up in the Norwegian mountains."
What did a typical day of music practice look like for you, and how did your family support your passion? How do you manage your time between training and schoolwork?
Bjørn Mathias Tollefsen:
"I normally get up around 6:30 am every morning to prepare for and attend my studies at the local high school here in Sandnes. I addition to general O- and A-level subjects, we also study a lot of music subjects including individual vocal training. Then, in the afternoon, I return home around 5 pm, have some dinner, before I leave for individual practise sessions with my teacher Anne-Margrethe Svanes, or practice at home in my specially prepared music training room in our house. I typically practise a lot of vocal techniques, but also rehearse different repertoires that have been handpicked by my teachers to secure the right and timely development and progress, as well as in preparations for different concerts and competitions. In between I also try do get some school homework done, as well as some physical training, and every night I try to put in 10 minutes of breath support training before I go to sleep. Sometimes I take an evening off to spend it with my friends and girlfriend, and the weekends are often more of that, unless there are concerts or competitions (which tend to happen rather frequently as it seems…although I have been trying to limit the number of concerts recently)."
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank ?
Bjørn Mathias Tollefsen:
"I have been really blessed with a lot of good support along this journey, with excellent teachers who work 24/7, with a city council which offered grants and financial support, and least but not last, my family, who helps me organise busy schedules and drive me to all the different practise sessions and concerts. In particular I would like to thank sincerely my song pedagogue Anne-Margrethe Svanes at Klepp school of culture, who is there for me 24/7, and my mentors Matthew Mark Marriott and professor Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz at University of Stavanger. And of course my dad, who follows up all my practice sessions and helps me organise pretty much everything, including all the video and sound recordings, as well as maintaining my YouTube channel."
