Solti Foundation Announces Conductor Career Assistance Award Recipients

The Solti Foundation has announced the 2019 recipients of the Young Conductors Career Assistance Awards

The Solti Foundation, in Evanston, United States has this week announced the 2019 recipients of the Young Conductors Career Assistance Awards.

Presented annually since 2000 in honor of the memory of Sir Georg Solti, the grants are awarded to assist talented young American conductors at the early stage of their professional careers.

This year’s recipients include first time recipients plus a number of young conductors whom have been supported by the foundation in the past - and who have proven themselves to be deserving of additional support in their musical journeys.

The 2019 Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award recipients are:

• Conner Gray Covington - Associate Conductor of Utah Symphony
• Aram Demirjian - Music Director of Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
• Joshua Hong - Music Director of the Campanile Orchestra
• Stilian Kirov - Music Director of the Bakersfield Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic and the New Jersey Symphony in C
• Benjamin Manis - Resident Conductor of the Houston Grand Opera
• Lee Mills - Resident Conductor of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony
• Gemma New - Music Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Resident Conductor of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
• Stefano Sarzani - Former Associate Conductor of the Des Moines Metro Opera
• Stephanie Rhodes Russell - Associate Conductor of the Grand Teton Music Festival
• Kensho Watanabe - Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

“We are committed to realizing Solti’s passion for excellence in music by extending assistance to further the early careers of those with exceptional talent,” Lady Valerie Solti has said.

“The future of classical music is indeed bright ...," Solti Foundation Board Chair Penny Van Horn has said.

"Each year the Foundation receives applications from all over, demonstrating the need for an organization such as ours. ... it is exciting to learn of new talent and to watch the growth of some former award recipients," she has said.