Bente Johnsrud has been awarded the Honor of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy

Festival director Bente Johnsrud and Italian Ambassador Stefano Nicoletti.

On October 23, Festival director and artistic leader Bente Johnsrud was awarded the Honor of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy by the Italian Ambassador to Oslo, Stefano Nicoletti. The Order is awarded, among others, to foreigners who have distinguished themselves with special merits in promoting ties with Italy.

Regarding the award, Ambassador Nicoletti highlighted: “As the director of the Oslo International Church Music Festival, Bente Johnsrud has a sincere interest in Italy and has given our country ample space. Over the years, she has consolidated a fruitful collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Oslo and the Italian Embassy. This collaboration has led to a range of projects that have created exciting encounters between Italian musicians and a Norwegian audience. Oslo International Church Music Festival, now in its 24th edition, is one of Norway's most significant music festivals and presents a varied musical program in a broader context, also addressing social issues such as discrimination, integration, freedom of religion, human rights, and the role of women in music.”

In 2007, Johnsrud received Oslo’s Artist Award, and in 2012 she was awarded the Spanish Order of Civil Merit –Orden del Mérito Civilfor her work with Spanish cultural projects within the festival. Johnsrud has also been awarded the national and international Paul Harris Fellow Medal. In 2023, Johnsrud was appointed Knight of the French “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et