Bente Illevold comes from Rendalen, Norway, and plays the euphonium. Over the past decade, her focus has been on innovative performances and exploring new music for the instrument, gaining recognition both nationally and internationally. More than twenty new pieces for euphonium have been commissioned and premiered, with exciting projects underway for the future. As an international S.E. Shires Company Euphonium Artist, Bente became the first female and European euphonium artist selected by the company.

Her debut album, Klangen fra de dype skoger (2020), received a nomination for “Instrumentalist des Jahres” by OPUS KLASSIK, Germany’s leading classical music magazine. A second album, Alone (2021), was nominated for “Album of the Year” by 4BarsRest. In 2024, Bente was a nominee for “Player of the Year” by 4BarsRest, and the album Baut secured third prize in the “Solo/Ensemble Album of the Year” category. 

Bente works to gain recognition for the euphonium in the world of classical music. She was the first euphoniumist to be a member of Norsk Tonekunstnersamfund and has also won several prestigious grants and awards, including the Forsberg and Aulie Grant in 2021, Drammen Municipality’s Artist Grant and title of Municipal Artist of the Year in 2023, and a working grant in 2024 from the Ingerid, Synnøve, and Elias Fegersten Foundation to promote music by female composers.