Bearing a prize money of 25,000 Euros, the “Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward” will be donated by Glashütte Original for the 15th time in 2018 and presented in cooperation with the Dresden Music Festival (May 10 to June 10, 2018). As in past years, the award is manufactured by two students at the company’s own “Alfred Helwig” School of Watchmaking.
US-American opera singer Joyce DiDonato will receive this year’s award for her contributions to music education. Through her programmes, the internationally celebrated singer likes to convey comprehensive messages of peace and humanism. Off stage, she has been involved in social projects for many years, whether in education or performing for the inmates of the high-security Sing Sing Prison in the USA. The award will be presented to the artist on May 28, 2018 as part of her concert “In War & Peace – Harmony Through Music” at Dresden’s Kulturpalast.
“Joyce DiDonato is an artist who does not differentiate between life and art. She devotes the same enthusiasm and the same standard of perfection to social activism as she does to the preparation of her opera roles and concerts. As a colleague, I admire Joyce; on behalf of the Music Festival and our sponsor Glashütte Original, I am delighted at this fantastic prize-winner,” says Jan Vogler, Intendant of the Dresden Music Festival.
Previous prize winners include such artist personalities as Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, Hélène Grimaud, Hilary Hahn, the fado singer Mariza, Andris Nelsons and the cellist Steven Isserlis.
