Emmanuel Pahud awarded the Prix Léonie-Sonning

The Léonie Sonning Prize has been awarded to composers, conductors, instrumentalists and singers since 1959. The first winner was Igor Stravinsky. Other recipients include Birgit Nilsson, Benjamin Britten, Arthur Rubinstein, Dimitri Shostakovich, Mstislav Rostropovich, Svyatoslav Richter, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Leonard Bernstein.

The flautist Emmanuel Pahud from western Switzerland began his musical studies at the age of six. He completed his studies in 1990 with the 1er Prix of the Paris Conservatory and continued his training with Aurèle Nicolet. He won 1st prize at the competitions in Duino, Kobe and Geneva. At the age of 22, Emmanuel Pahud was engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic as principal flute under Claudio Abbado, a position he still holds today. He also enjoys an extensive international career as a soloist and chamber musician.