The competition was established in 1980 under the patronage of Queen Margarethe of Denmark., initially as a violin competition with its first President Henryk Szeryng. The flute edition was added in 1998. From 2019, the Carl Nielsen International Competitions for violin, clarinet, and flute will be held concurrently for the first time. Since 2019 the competition has three Artistic Advisors: Nikolaj Znaider, Emmanuel Pahud, and Martin Fröst.
- TBA
2022 Flute Jury:
Karl-Heinz Schütz, (Chairperson): Principal Solo Flute with the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra
Walter Auer, Austria
Rune Most, solo flautist with the Odense Symphony orchestra
Emily Beynon, Principal flute of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Marina Piccinini, solo flutist, Professor of flute at the Peabody Institute