Ernst von Siemens Music Prize

Ernst von Siemens Music Prize
Awarded for	"personalities whose compositions, interpretations, writings, or teaching served music and promoted the love of music"[1]
Sponsored by	Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, Zug, Switzerland
Location	Munich
Country	Germany
Presented by	Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste and Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation
Reward(s)	€250,000 (main prize)
First awarded	1974
Website	https://www.evs-musikstiftung.ch/en

The Ernst von Siemens Music Prize (short: Siemens Music Prize, German: Ernst von Siemens Musikpreis) is an annual music prize given by the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste (Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts) on behalf of the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung [de] (Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation), established in 1972. The foundation was established by Ernst von Siemens (1903–1990) and promotes contemporary music. The prize honors a composer, performer, or musicologist who has made a distinguished contribution to the world of music. In addition to the main prize, other prizes are also given. The total prize money given is currently €3.5 million, with the winner of the main prize receiving €250,000.^[2] The prize is sometimes known as "the Nobel Prize of music".^[3]

Smaller awards are called "Förderpreis" (encouragement award). "Komponisten-Förderpreise" ("Composer Prizes") are given to young composers for one of their works. "Förderprojekte" ("Grant-in-Aid Projects") support music festivals, concerts, musical institutions, and young musicians.