The award ceremony itself took place at the Cosmopolite music venue in Oslo on Tuesday this week, attended by a number of the country’s leading musicians.
"I’m not quite sure what to say, but I’m both proud and delighted to receive this honour. It’s a wonderful recognition of my musical career over many years. So this is, of course, very special", says the newly appointed Knight.
A long career that began in 1980
Bendik Hofseth is a professor of music at the University of Agder and has had an extensive career as a saxophonist, composer, singer and record producer. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 18 in 1980 – and has since been a central figure in Norwegian jazz.
Internationally, he is particularly well known for his time with the world-renowned American jazz fusion group Steps Ahead, of which he was a member from 1987 to 1992. On the 1989 album NYC, he wrote five of the eleven tracks. In addition, he has released 17 albums of his own and six singles between 1991 and 2025.
Listen to NYC on Spotify here.
View the album overview here.
"One of the world’s finest saxophonists"
In the Norwegian jazz scene, the award comes as no surprise.
"This is well deserved. Bendik Hofseth is without doubt one of the world’s best saxophonists. The fact that he is now being honoured in this way here at home is actually long overdue", says his long-time bandmate, jazz musician and entrepreneur Carl Størmer.
"Lucky students"
There is also great joy at UiA.
"We are incredibly proud that one of our professors is receiving such recognition. It demonstrates the quality and dedication of his artistic work throughout his entire career - and our students are lucky to have the opportunity to be taught and inspired by him", says Dean Marit Wergeland of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
Grand concert and one-day festival at the Opera House
To mark his knighthood and a career that has left a significant mark on Norwegian jazz, Hofseth is hosting a grand concert at the Norwegian Opera & Ballet on 21 June. The concert, ‘A Little Parade’, is billed as a one-day festival and brings together musicians from several generations of Norwegian jazz.
On the main stage – with seating for around 1,360 guests – Hofseth’s legendary 1990s band and his current ensemble will perform, alongside a choir, strings and a large number of guest musicians from Norway and abroad. The evening will also be filmed by director Odd Geir Sæther.
The concert is organised by Christer Falck, who promises “the old band, the new band, a choir, strings and a host of guests”. In total, over a hundred performers will take to the stage this evening.
Knight 1st Class – Order of St Olav
- One of the highest civilian honours in Norway.
- Awarded by the King for outstanding services to Norway and humanity.
- Ranks fourth out of five in the Order of St Olav (above Knight, below Commander).
- Often awarded to individuals who have distinguished themselves in the arts, culture, public life, science or humanitarian work.
- Awarded to between 15 and 20 people a year on average.
- Some other well-known jazz musicians who have received the Order of St. Olav are: Arild Andersen, Karin Krog, Jan Garbarek and Terje Rypdal.