Summary
The Wihuri Sibelius Prize is a music prize awarded by the Wihuri Foundation for International Prizes to prominent composers who have become internationally known and acknowledged. The Wihuri Sibelius Prize is one of the biggest and most prestigious music prizes in the world of classical music. The first Sibelius Prize was awarded to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, whom the prize was named after, in 1953. By 2021, the Wihuri Foundation for International Prizes has awarded altogether 19 Wihuri Sibelius Prizes, the latest award climbing up to €150,000 and awarded to Finnish composer Jukka Tiensuu. The Wihuri Sibelius Prize winner is selected by a five-member committee that consists of experts from Finnish music institutions. The prize may be awarded to private individuals or organizations regardless of nationality.[1]
| Wihuri Sibelius Prize | |
|---|---|
 Antti Wihuri handing over the Wihuri Sibelius Prize to Paul Hindemith in 1955. In the back President Juho Kusti Paasikivi. | |
| Awarded for | "prominent composers who have become internationally known and acknowledged" |
| Sponsored by | Wihuri Foundation for International Prizes |
| Location | Helsinki |
| Country | Finland |
| Reward(s) | €150,000 |
| First awarded | 1953 |
| Website | wihuriprizes |
Prizewinners edit
| Year | Prizewinner[2] | Country | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Jean Sibelius | 
|
 Finland
|
|
| 1955 | Paul Hindemith | 
|
 West Germany
|
|
| 1958 | Dmitri Shostakovich | 
|
 Soviet Union
|
|
| 1963 | Igor Stravinsky | 
|
 United States
|
|
| 1965 | Benjamin Britten | 
|
 United Kingdom
|
|
| Erik Bergman | 
|
Finland
|
||
| Usko Meriläinen | 
|
Finland
|
||
| Einojuhani Rautavaara | 
|
Finland
|
||
| 1971 | Olivier Messiaen | 
|
 France
|
|
| 1973 | Witold Lutoslawski | 
|
 Poland
|
|
| Joonas Kokkonen | 
|
Finland
|
||
| 1983 | Krzysztof Penderecki | 
|
Poland
|
|
| Aulis Sallinen | 
|
Finland
|
||
| 2000 | György Ligeti | 
|
 Hungary/ Austria
|
|
| 2003 | Magnus Lindberg | 
|
Finland
|
|
| 2006 | Per Nørgård | 
|
 Denmark
|
|
| 2009 | Kaija Saariaho | 
|
Finland
|
|
| 2012 | György Kurtág | 
|
Hungary
|
|
| 2015 | Harrison Birtwistle | 
|
United Kingdom
|
[3] |
| 2017 | Unsuk Chin |
|
 South Korea
|
[4][5] |
| 2020 | Jukka Tiensuu |
|
Finland
|
[6] |
| 2023 | Tristan Murail |
|
France
|
[7] |
References edit
- ^ "Kansainvälisten palkintojen rahasto". Kansainvälisten palkintojen rahasto. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "Wihuri Sibelius Prize". Wihuri Foundation. Helsinki. 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ "Sir Harrison Birtwistle Sibelius Prize Winner 2015". Helsinki: Wihuri Foundation for International Prizes. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ "Unsuk Chin, Sibelius Prize Winner 2017". Helsinki: Wihuri Foundation for International Prizes. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ Kim, Hoo-ran (11 October 2017). "Composer Chin Un-suk wins Sibelius Prize". The Korea Herald. Seoul. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ Tiikkaja, Samuli: Maailman suurimpiin kuuluvan musiikkipalkinnon saanut säveltäjä Jukka Tiensuu panostaa teosten laatuun, ei itsensä brändäykseen. Helsingin Sanomat 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Tristan Murail, Sibelius Prize Winner 2023". Helsinki: Wihuri Foundation for International Prizes. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
External links edit
- Official website (in English and Finnish)