Evelyn Glennie receives Léonie Sonning Music Prize

Dame Evelyn Glennie will next year become the first percussionist to receive the 2023 Léonie Sonning Music Prize. Dame Evelyn will receive the award during a special tribute concert in Copenhagen’s DR Koncerthuset in June 2023.

Recognised as Denmark's biggest music award, the Léonie Sonning prize comes with a 1,000,000 Danish Kroner (£115,948) cash prize. As a prize recipient, Dame Evelyn will perform in Denmark throughout 2023 with events including For Deaf Ears, a performance and conversation with radio host and music presenter, Bendikte Granvig (18 and 19 February).

Esben Tange, chairman of the Léonie Sonning Music Foundation which awards the prize, said: ‘Evelyn Glennie is a pioneer. With her more than 200 specially commissioned pieces and eclectic collaborations with a wide variety of musicians and contemporary composers from Scotland's James MacMillan to Iceland's Björk, she completely transcends boundaries. She has gone on to broaden the understanding of music and how we listen to music.’

Born near Aberdeen, Scotland in 1965, Dame Evelyn became profoundly deaf by the age of twelve. She nevertheless pursued a career as professional musician, teaching herself to feel the resonance of music throughout her body and joining the Royal Academy of Music at age 16. In 2007 she became the first percussionist awarded Dame Commander of the British Empire.

Founded in 1959, the Léonie Sonning Music Prize was first awarded to composer Igor Stravinskij. The 2022 prize recipient was the French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard. You can find a full list of previous prize recipients here.

Dame Evelyn said: ‘To receive this Prize has allowed me the opportunity to pause and reflect. Most importantly, the Prize reflects real celebration and inclusiveness. This is so important, and I'm delighted that the next generation of creative minds are able to participate in the celebrations of this extremely special Prize.’