Graziella Contratto, Head of the Music department, has been awarded the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol Young Classic Award, including prize money of 20,000 Swiss francs for her «outstanding achievements in the cultivation of young talent in music» as artistic director of the Davos Festival – young artists in concert.

 

The Davos Festival – young artists in concert and its artistic director Graziella Contratto received the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol Young Classic Award on 4 February in Bern. The president of the jury and star conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy personally presented Graziella Contratto with the award, which includes prize money of 20,000 Swiss francs. In 2010 the renowned conductor took on her position as Head of the Music department at the Bern University of the Arts, which is part of the Bern University of Applied Sciences.

 

The Johanna Dürmüller-Bol Young Classic Award was launched in 2007 by Interlaken Classics and has been awarded five times since. The prize is awarded by the Johanna Dürmüller-Bol Foundation and recognises institutions that have shown an outstanding commitment to fostering young talent in music. While the prize is awarded to institutions, the founders, presidents or managers of the institutions are also honoured. In the past, these have included Anne-Sophie Mutter, Michael Tilson Thomas, Werner Schmitt und Gustav Djupsjöbacka.