Award Policy
Adopted on March 6, 2025
In accordance with its statutes, the foundation’s primary purpose is to award an annual music prize as an honorary grant that cannot be applied for. When awarding the prize, “only purely musical qualifications shall be considered, and all questions of nationality, race, religion, political views, or economic status shall be disregarded.”
The Léonie Sonning Music Prize focuses on classical music. However, this should be understood in a broad sense; as music and its boundaries continue to evolve, the board selects candidates from across the classical music spectrum in all its diversity. Emphasis is placed not only on artistic excellence but also on the recipient’s ability to leave a personal and lasting impact on the development of the art form classical music.
The current prize amount is 1,000,000 Danish kroner.
Additionally, the foundation awards annual scholarships—currently approximately 10 grants of 100,000 Danish kroner each—in accordance with its statutes. These grants are awarded to young composers, conductors, musicians, or singers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, based solely on musical qualifications. If all qualitative requirements are equal, candidates from Sweden and Denmark are given preference.
The talent prizes are primarily awarded to young composers, musicians, conductors, or singers residing in Denmark. As these prizes support artistic development, recipients are required to submit a plan that must be approved by the board.
The scholarships cannot be applied for.
More information
Kristina Sindberg
Senior advisor
kristina@sindbergkommunikation.dk
Mobile 24860184