VC ‘Artist’ Augustin Hadelich Awarded $100,000 Warner Music Prize

October 20, 2015

2 MIN READ

Italian-German violin virtuoso, VC ‘Artist’ Augustin Hadelich has today been announced as the inaugural recipient of the US $100,000 Warner Music Group classical music bursary.

Established with support from the Blavatnik Family Foundation and in association with Carnegie Hall, the $100,000 cash prize was awarded to a classical singer or instrumentalist aged 18 to 35, who was presented by Carnegie Hall in a significant solo role during the 2014-2015 concert season - and who demonstrated exceptional talent and promise.

“One of the primary missions of our foundation is to support and encourage creative young people in a diversity of disciplines,” Len Blavatnik, founder of the Blavatnik Family Foundation has said, “ … acknowledging and helping young musicians is essential if we are to see classical music thrive for generations to come.”

“I am just so happy and delighted and honoured to receive this recognition…” Augustin has told The Violin Channel, “ … it is so amazing!"

“I haven’t quite figured out how exactly I will spend the money, but at this stage of my career there are a lot of expenses that this prize can help with,” he has said.

“I might use some of the prize to buy a new bow, and will certainly use some to finance CD recordings, as well as the production of quality youtube videos…." the 31 year old has indicated, "... I feel YouTube has become so important these days - it is now the place where many people go to check out artists they don’t know yet, so it is the platform where many people will hear me for the first time."

Augustin is a former 1st prize winner at the Indianapolis International Violin Competition - and former recipient of a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and a Bortletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship.