EMI Classics signs trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth
EMI Classics is pleased to announce that Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth has signed an exclusive recording contract with the label. Forthcoming recordings will capture Helseth both as a classical soloist and as leader of her all-female Norwegian brass ensemble, tenThing. Her first recording, a collection of songs arranged for trumpet in orchestral and chamber settings, will be released in October 2011.
Just 23 years old, the dynamic Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth is one of the leading trumpet soloists of her generation. She is already a sensation in her homeland, winning the 2007 Norwegian Grammy Award for Best Newcomer (she was the first classical artist even to be nominated); her 2009 Christmas disc, My Heart Is Ever Present, went “gold” within three weeks of release. Helseth is a unique and innovative artist dedicated to expanding the reach of core classical trumpet repertoire and exploring alternative soundscapes, both as leader of the all-female tenThing and in collaboration with artists from other genres.
On joining EMI Classics as an exclusive artist, Helseth said, “I am extremely excited to sign my agreement as I have long had a great admiration for all the artists who have recorded with EMI Classics. It is a huge honor to join such a prestigious list and I’m really looking forward to developing a great artistic collaboration with all the team.”
Eric Dingman, President of EMI Classics, added, “Each of us at EMI Music is excited about joining with such a unique, creative, and promising young talent as Tine. Between her classical and hybrid repertoire and tenThing, we look forward to helping Tine bring her music to life, reaching broader audiences in Europe, Asia, and North America.”
Kathryn Enticott, Senior Vice President of IMG Artists said, “Tine is one of those exceptional contemporary artists who has the ability to connect with audiences of all ages. Through her varied work, not just as a solo artist but also with her brass ensemble, tenThing, her quartet, and in a number of other collaborations, Tine has already endeared herself to a huge number of fans in her native Norway. We are delighted that EMI Classics has seen the potential to expand Tine’s worldwide recording career and we look forward to working closely with Eric and his team to establish Tine further as a major international performance and recording artist.”
Andrew Cornall, Vice President of A&R for EMI Classics said, “I am delighted that Tine is joining the EMI family. She is an outstanding musician with wonderfully creative ideas and we are looking forward to converting these into great recordings.”
Helseth signed her contract at EMI’s London headquarters on April 19. She was joined by members of her IMG Management team – Senior Vice President and Managing Director Claire Dacam, Kathryn Enticott, Edward Pascall, and Clare Dodd – and the EMI Classics team, including Eric Dingman, Senior Vice President of EMI Music Artist Relations Caryn Tomlinson, Andrew Cornall, Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs Lorna Aizlewood, Vice President of Global Marketing Azhar Malik, and Finance Director Catherine Fairlamb.
Images from the signing are available here.
A short teaser video is available on EMI Classics’ YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmtkwV7jHIY
About Tine Thing Helseth
Tine Thing Helseth, born in 1987, started playing the trumpet at the age of 7 and is one of the leading trumpet soloists of her generation. Highlights of last season included her U.S. recital debut in Washington DC, a return to the Ulster Orchestra, performances with the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, and a U.K. tour with the Trondheim Soloists.
This season Helseth has made recital debuts in Berlin, Brussels, Luxembourg, and New York, at Carnegie Hall. She also performs with the Orchestre National de Lille, Danish and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestras, BBC Scottish Symphony, Gävle Symphony, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, and NDR Radio Philharmonic Hannover as well as touring Switzerland and Germany with the Trondheim Soloists.
Helseth’s debut album (Classical Trumpet Concertos with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra) was released in November 2007 on the Norwegian Simax label and named “Classical Recording of the Year” by the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten. Also on Simax, Helseth’s second album – My Heart Is Ever Present, a collection of her favorite Christmas songs and hymns, released in November 2009 – went “gold” in the Norwegian classical chart after just three weeks.
Helseth’s European festival appearances include the Schleswig-Holstein, Bergen International, and Kissinger Summer, where she was awarded the Luitpold Prize for the most outstanding and interesting young artist of the year in 2007. Among the trumpeter’s numerous other awards are the 2009 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, “Newcomer of the Year” at the 2007 Norwegian Grammy Awards, second prize in the 2006 Eurovision Young Musicians Competition, and the prestigious Prince Eugen’s Culture Prize in Stockholm.
www.tinethinghelseth.com
www.facebook.com/TineThing
www.emiclassics.com