Rünzi Prize 2022 goes to Eugen Meier
The musician Eugen Meier receives this year's prize from the "Divisionär F. K. Rünzi" foundation. The canton is thus honoring the life's work of a personality "who has worked tirelessly for the development of the Valais music scene".
Born in 1934 in Würenlingen, Aargau, Eugen Meier originally trained as a primary school teacher at the Wettingen Teachers' College. At the same time, he continued his musical education and obtained a diploma in organ teaching at the Zurich Music Academy in 1960, and later a diploma in solo singing as a tenor, a diploma in choral conducting and a diploma as a conductor at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
From 1962 to 1999, Eugen Meier was music director in Visp and put his extensive musical knowledge at the service of various associations. He conducted the Visp Male Choir, the St. Martinschor Visp, the Visp Orchestra Society, the "Visper Spatzen", the Upper Valais Symphony Orchestra, the Valais Chamber Choir and the "Vispe" Music Society. Eugen Meier gave numerous secular and sacred concerts with his ensembles.
He also continued the operetta and opera tradition that had existed in Visp since 1936, such as various open-air operettas at Gräfibiel and later in the newly opened "La Poste" culture and congress center. He was also co-founder of various Valais choirs and orchestras as well as the General Music School of Upper Valais (AMO), the Church Music School of Upper Valais and the Association of Organists and Choirmasters.
The Rünzi Prize, endowed with 20,000 francs, has been awarded since 1972 to personalities who, according to the foundation charter, have rendered outstanding services to Valais.
