Deutschlandfunk Prize presented to Anton Mejias

The Finnish-Cuban pianist Anton Mejias was presented with this year's “Förderpreis Deutschlandfunk” at a reception in the small auditorium of the Glocke on 30 August after the “Next Generation” concert with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.
Ralf Müller-Schmid, programme director of Deutschlandfunk Kultur, took the occasion of the award ceremony to praise the 30-year collaboration between Deutschlandradio and the Musikfest Bremen. He said that a great concert like the one with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin tonight was another milestone in the collaboration and pointed out that music enthusiasts would be able to enjoy this highlight once more on the nationwide broadcast on Deutschlandfunk Kultur on 13 September at 8:03 pm. In his laudatory speech, he then emphasised that Anton Mejias, born in Helsinki in 2001, had impressed the Deutschlandfunk music department and the directors of the Musikfest Bremen with his outstanding technique and virtuosity, resulting in captivating interpretations with both balanced elegance and dynamic vitality. Ralf Müller-Schmid and Musikfest director Prof Thomas Albert then presented the award. Anton Mejias happily accepted the prize and explained in his acceptance speech that it was a great honour to receive the award after such outstanding previous laureates as Julia Fischer and Patricia Kopatchinskaja. For him, music is not just about the notes and technique; as an expression of his emotions, it is a dialogue between his soul and the world. In a subsequent discussion, Christoph Schmitz, Head of Music Journalism, introduced the laureate to the guests.