Winners of Franco Buitoni Award announced

The Borletti-Buitoni Trust (BBT) has revealed that the 2025 Franco Buitoni Award has been awarded to Italian percussionist Leonardo Ramadori and oboist Simone Frondini in recognition of their commitment to ‘bringing the joy and appreciation of classical music to many differently underprivileged communities throughout Umbria’.

Ramadori and Frondini will be presented with the £20,000 award by Ilaria Borletti-Buitoni on 22 March in Perugia. Now in its fifth edition, the award was established by Borletti-Buitoni as a tribute to her late husband and co-founder of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, Franco Buitoni, to recognise the Italian musicians who ‘promote and encourage chamber music at home and abroad’.

Borletti-Buitoni said: ‘I have been a huge admirer of Simone and Leonardo’s work for many years, and I have seen the results of their unwavering dedication to creating awareness and enjoyment of live music, especially for children. I truly believe that classical music has an important role to play in everybody’s lives; the experience of listening to music is a unique experience, but it acquires even more value when shared with others. And that sense of community promotes a sense of wellbeing and participation – vital elements for today’s way of life when so much social ‘interaction’ is via various media. Classical music has to find its relevance in the 21^st century and, in this respect, I fully support Simone and Leonardo’s aims and intentions and, of course, their deeds.’

The award particularly celebrates Ramadori and Frondini’s Musica per Crescere (Music to Grow With) project, which was founded in 2002 to bring classical music to areas of Umbria with very little institutional music provision. Presented in collaboration with Umbria’s Amici della Musica di Perugia music association, of which Franco Buitoni was the President, the project has since created over 40 productions for schools throughout the municipality of Perugia and beyond.