Birgit felt a personal responsibility for the future of opera and created a national stipendium for young Swedish singers, to help encourage the next generation of top talent.

The court singer Professor Birgit Nilsson’s Stipendium fund was established in December 1969, in memory of her first teacher, Ragnar Blennow. The founding capital of 15,000 Swedish kronor, was set aside from the revenue of a performance of Tosca at the Malmö City Theatre in which she sang the title role. This was a sum that corresponds today to just over 100,000 Swedish kronor.

The first Stipendium was awarded in 1973, but it was not until 1984 that it began to be awarded regularly. Initially, the Stipendium was awarded in Malmö but in the years between 1984 and 2002, it was most often presented on the occasion of the “Birgit Nilsson concerts” in her local church at Västra Karup. Between 2012 and 2019 the Stipendium was again presented at the Malmö Opera, finally returning to Västra Karup in 2020. Today the Stipendium totals 200 000 SEK and is awarded on the occasion of the Birgit Nilsson Days during which the recipient also gives a recital.

The Stipendium is awarded to promising young singers who work in the spirit of Birgit Nilsson and The foundation’s goal is to promote the continued musical education for talented young artists.

The Stipendium board appoints the recipients. It cannot be applied for.