“…the most remarkable tuba player I have ever heard.”

−Barry Tuckwell, legendary hornist

 

 “His rendering of my concerto far surpasses anything a composer might hope for.”

John Williams

 

 “…borders are redefined. Five out of five stars for interpretation and sound quality.”
Klassik.com (Germany) of CD Kalevi Aho (2007)

​

​

Born in Trondheim, Norway, Øystein Baadsvik’s international reputation was established in 1991 when he was awarded two prizes at the prestigious Concours International d’Exécution Musicale in Geneva, Switzerland. His virtuoso technique and extraordinary musicality as a soloist, chamber musician and recording artist have allowed him to carve out a career that has taken him around the globe. In 1991, Øystein was recognized by the Norwegian state and awarded a two-year grant to support his musical endeavors. In 2006, he made his Carnegie Hall recital debut in performing works recorded on his CD, Danzas, on the BIS label.

 

With over 5 million views on YouTube, Øystein Baadsvik is sought after world-wide and has performed as a soloist with renowned orchestras such as the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bergen Philharmonic, L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Taipei National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, Orchestra Victoria of Melbourne, Warsaw Philharmonic, Polish Radio Orchestra, Gdansk Philharmonic, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Sweden’s Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, and the Singapore Philharmonic.

​

The driving force behind Øystein’s career has always been the joy of musical exploration. He has premiered over 50 solo works by composers (as recognized in a New York Times article by Daniel J. Wakin on 04/27/2007) and has expanded the tuba repertoire with his own compositions. In 2017, he gave the first TEDx Talk about the tuba. Øystein works constantly to expand the boundaries of his instrument, performing solo repertoire, chamber music, and collaborating with jazz and rock musicians. His developments of new techniques for tuba have been used in a number of recent compositions.

​

Voted one of the top ten brass players in history by Classic FM listeners, Øystein is an active recording artist whose albums receive unstinting praise. He has received prizes on two occasions for Excellence in Recording by the International Tuba Euphonium Association. His first recording on the BIS label, “Tuba Carnival”, was released in over 40 countries and became an instant success. It is offered through the Musical Heritage Society and has been broadcast over the BBC, NPR, ABC radio in Australia, SR in Sweden, NRK in Norway and on radio stations in New Zealand, Poland and Germany. In 2003, “Tuba Carnival” was recommended by the magazine ClassicsToday as one of the six best recordings in the world for a solo instrument and orchestra. In a review of the album “Tuba Works”, the American Record Guide said, “This spectacular recording establishes Baadsvik as one of the best solo tubists in the world.” In praise of “Tuba Carnival”, The Daily Telegraph, U.K said, “…Baadsvik shows that anything a violin can do, a tuba can do too.” In 2018, Øystein released his 12th solo album, a collaboration with the legendary Indian violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam. The album featured a double concerto for Indian violin, tuba and orchestra.

 

In demand as an educator, Øystein tours the United States each fall during his Octubatour and presents recitals, master classes, and tuba clinics at leading universities throughout the United States including The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, Cleveland Institute of Music, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Northwestern University, University of Maryland, University of Texas, and the University of Wisconsin.

 

Øystein studied with the celebrated tuba player Harvey Phillips at Indiana University and with the legendary Arnold Jacobs of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Øystein compositions, recordings, news, repertoire, and reviews can be found on his website: baadsvik.com.