By Natalie White | Photos by Phillip Knott
At the upcoming 42nd edition of the Dresden Music Festival taking place from 16 May to 10 June 2019, Joshua Bell is set to receive the "Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward." The prize will be presented to him as part of his appearance at the Frauenkirche on 27 May.
Since his Carnegie Hall debut in 1985, Joshua Bell is one of the greatest classical music performers in our times. His concept of music as a means of trans-cultural understanding plays a central role in the school reform project "Education Through Music and Turnaround Arts" of the NAMM Foundation, enabling disadvantaged children to gain access to classical music in many different ways. In addition, Bell is active in mentoring the string players of the National YoungArts Foundation, a charitable organization supporting rising young artists at high schools, and teaches at his own alma mater, the Jacobs School of Music.
For his outstanding efforts and activities, German watchmaker Glashütte Original honours the American violinist at the befitting occasion.
"I have known Joshua Bell since 1989, when we met at the Marlboro Music Festival and would sight-read Schubert trios together during our spare time. Joshua has remained true to himself and reaches classical music fans of all generations and nationalities with his poetic style of playing the violin. Today he is one of the most charismatic and successful musicians in the world, and I am delighted that we are able to honour his work with the ‘Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward’ this year," adds Jan Vogler, Intendant of the Dresden Music Festival.
The prize money of 25,000 Euros for the "Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward," donated by Glashütte Original for the 16th time in 2019 will be presented in cooperation with the Dresden Music Festival. As in past years, the award trophy is manufactured by two students at the company's "Alfred Helwig" School of Watchmaking.
Recent prize winners have included such artist personalities as Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, Hélène Grimaud, Hilary Hahn, the fado singer Mariza, Andris Nelsons, Steven Isserlis and Joyce DiDonato.
