Heinz Holliger winner

On tour in Japan, Heinz Holliger reacted to his nomination live at the award ceremony held in Basel Cathedral in the presence of Federal Councillor Alain Berset. Heinz Holliger was selected from 15 nominees by the Federal Music Jury, and receives a cash prize of CHF 100,000.

Born in Langenthal in 1939, Heinz Holliger studied oboe, piano and composition in Berne, Paris and Basel. He won first prizes at the Geneva International Music Performance Competition and the ARD in Munich, and enjoyed an international career as an oboist, with works premiered by numerous composers, including Berio, Carter and Ligeti. As a conductor, Holliger works regularly with major symphony orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra and the London and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras. He is also a much sought-after composer. His most notable works include the opera Snow Whitecycle Scardanelli and his violin concerto.

The Swiss Music Grand Prix, awarded for the second time, aims to reward and highlight the outstanding and innovative musical creation of a musician or group of musicians. In May 2015, the seven members of the jury selected 15 finalists from the fifty or so musicians nominated, namely: Philippe Albèra (Geneva), Nik Bärtsch (Zurich), Malcolm Braff (Vevey/Le Mont Pèlerin), Markus Flückiger (Schwyz), Joy Frempong (Bolgatanga/Zurich), Marcel Gschwend aka Bit-Tuner (St. Gallen/Zurich), Heinrich Gschwend aka Bit-Tuner (St. Gallen/Zurich), Heinrich Gschwend aka Bit-Tuner (St. Gallen/Zurich). Gallen/Zurich), Heinz Holliger (Basel), Daniel Humair (Geneva/Paris), Joke Lanz (Basel/Berlin), Christian Pahud (Lausanne), Annette Schmucki (Zurich/Cormoret), Bruno Spoerri (Zurich), Cathy van Eck (Zurich), Nadir Vassena (Lugano), Christian Zehnder (Basel). They each received the sum of 25,000 francs.