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Friedrich Cerha Receives 2012 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize; Luke Bedford Earns Composers' Prize

Jan. 31, 2012

Friedrich Cerha Receives 2012 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize; Luke Bedford Earns Composers' Prize

Many congratulations to Friedrich Cerha, recipient of the 2012 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. One of the most prestigious awards in music with a €200,000 cash prize, the Siemens Prize is awarded to the Austrian composer for his life’s work. A renowned composer, conductor, teacher and musicologist, Cerha initially achieved international notoriety for his brilliantly crafted and powerful version of the third act of Alban Berg’s Lulu. 

Powerful reminders of the vitality of his music and its physical, aural and emotional attraction have come most recently with numerous performances at the Vienna Modern festival and the complete performances of his monumental Spiegel cycle. The Ernst von Siemens Music Prize will be awarded to Cerha by the president of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts at a ceremony at Munich’s Cuvilliés Theatre on June 22, 2012. 

We are especially delighted that a 2012 Siemens Composers’ Prize has been awarded to fellow UE composer Luke Bedford. The young British composer is currently serving as the first ever Composer-in-Residence at Wigmore Hall, for which he is writing a new ensemble work for the Britten Sinfonia, as well as many other new works for Wigmore Hall. Further commissions in 2012 include a new work for the Scottish Ensemble which will premiere in the Spring. Bedford is no stranger to the award circuit: his orchestral work Wreathe, commissioned by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, won the 2008 British Composer Award in the orchestral category. Prior to that, the composer's orchestral piece Rode with Darkness earned the BBC Radio 3 Listener's Award at the 2004 BCAs.

Congratulations to Universal Edition and these two fine composers!

Learn more on Friedrich Cerha and Luke Bedford by visiting www.universaledition.com.

Read profiles on Cerha and Bedford at the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation website.

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