The conductor receives the award for his lifelong dedication to music
The 2025 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize will be awarded to British-German conductor Simon Rattle in recognition of his lifetime dedication to music. The Prize, which carries an award of €250,000, will be presented at the prize ceremony on 17 May 2025, at the Herkules hall of the Munich Residence.
One of the most significant and influential conductors of modern times, Rattle is known for his exceptional interpretations, openness to diverse musical genres, and dedication to educational work.
He has led four orchestras as principal conductor. Shortly after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in London, he became principal conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, later taking on the same role with the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Since the 2023/24 season, he has been chief conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
The Ernst von Siemens Music Prize has been awarded annually since 1973 by the private Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation (EvS Music Foundation), based in Switzerland.
The 2025 Composer Prizes, each valued at €35,000, will be additionally awarded to three composers: Ashkan Behzadi (Iran/Canada), Bastien David (France), and Kristine Tjøgersen (Norway).
The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation will grant a total of €4 million in project funding for the first time in 2025. Of this amount, the largest share of €3.3 million will support contemporary music projects worldwide.
In October 2024, the foundation announced collective lovemusic and the Tacet(i) as recipients of the Ensemble Prizes for 2025. The application deadline for the 2026 Ensemble Prizes is 1 March 2025 and is open to young, professional ensembles.
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