The Warner Music Group is establishing the Warner Music Prize, a new classical music award, to be given annually to a musician between 18 and 35 who demonstrates exceptional promise during a season in which his or her performances are seen by a jury of classical musicians and music industry executives. The award includes a $100,000 cash prize, and a recording offer from Warner Classics.
For its first year, Warner is collaborating with Carnegie Hall: the performances to be judged are part of the hall’s current schedule, and the winner – who will be announced in the spring – will perform at Zankel Hall as part of the Warner Music Prize Gala, next Oct. 27. A spokeswoman for the prize said that the award would be associated with a different hall or performing arts institution every year. The prize is also supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, which underwrites educational, scientific and cultural projects.
The musicians under consideration for the 2015 prize are two sopranos, Sarah Shafer and Jennifer Zetlan; the mezzo-sopranos Jamie Barton, Rachel Calloway, Cecelia Hall, Alisa Kolosova and Peabody Southwell; the tenor Dominic Armstrong; the bass-baritones Aubrey Allicock and Evan Hughes; the violinists Augustin Hadelich and Itamar Zorman; the cellist Brook Speltz; the double-bassist Roman Patkolo; the harpist Sivan Magen; and the pianist Behzod Abduraimov.