Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award Names 2025 Recipient

Korean-American conductor Holly Hyun Choe will receive a $30,000 grant, as well as career guidance and industry connections

The Solti Foundation U.S. has announced that conductor Holly Hyun Choe is the recipient of the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, the Foundation's flagship grant.

Awarded annually to a promising American conductor who is 36 years old or younger, the award carries a cash grant of $30,000, as well as providing the recipient with career guidance and industry connections. The recipient can choose to spend the money on anything that would enhance their career, including further studies, language learning, the purchase of scores, or travel.

Presently in her third season as Principal Conductor of the chamber orchestra Ensemble Reflektor, Choe is also currently Artiste Associate at the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève. It was recently announced that from 2026, she will serve as Principal Conductor and Musical Advisor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.

She has previously served as the assistant conductor to Paavo Järvi at the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, and she is currently a Dudamel Fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where she will make her debut on May 9, 2025.

Previous recipients of the Solti Award include François López-Ferrer, Keitaro Harada, Earl Lee, Gemma New, Aram Demirjian, Yaniv Dinur, Roderick Cox, Christopher Allen, Karina Canellakis, Vladimir Kulenovic, Cristian Măcelaru, James Feddeck, Case Scaglione, Eric Nielsen, and Anthony Barrese.

"It is with a heart full of gratitude and humility that I receive the next Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award," Choe said. "Accepting this award is truly life-changing, not just for the recognition, but as a promise to myself to continue striving towards an utmost dedication to the arts, following in the footsteps of Sir Georg Solti, whose life’s work was deeply rooted in reaching the highest level of music-making and profundity in the power of music."

"Since receiving a Career Assistance Award in 2020 and now this prestigious award, I strive to contribute to the tapestry of the art world, to be a role model, and to further develop my impact in our society and culture through music that encompasses the tradition of innovation, the inter-, and trans-disciplinary across art forms, and actively work to close the gap in privilege, diversity, and socioeconomics."

"I extend my most sincere thanks to The Solti Foundation U.S. for following my growth in the last several years and for believing in my potential and talent."

"Holly is an inspiring musician," said Elizabeth Buccheri, Chair of the Solti Foundation's Artistic and Awards Committee. "A natural born artist, Holly was a clarinetist until the age of 19. She is passionate, driven, and absolutely committed to music and a career in conducting, as her growing career demonstrates. She has carved out a career internationally and in the United States, and we cannot wait to see where her goals take her."

"Holly is also the third woman conductor to receive the Solti Fellow [grant]. As a Foundation which awards grants based on talent and not via competition, we can only consider conductors who apply. We hope that Holly’s well-deserved success spurs more women conductors to apply for The Solti Conducting Fellow Award in the future."