Joyce DiDonato is the recipient of the 2018 “Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward”

US-American opera singer is this year’s award winner

This year’s “Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward” goes to Joyce DiDonato from the USA. In her programs, the internationally acclaimed opera singer conveys universal messages in favor of peace and humanism, and she is privately involved in diverse social projects. The 2018 award is offered for the 15th time by the Saxon watch manufactory Glashütte Original and will be presented on May 28, 2018 on the occasion of Joyce DiDonato’s performance at the Dresden Kulturpalast.


Joyce DiDonato is one of the great opera singers of our times. Through her programmes, the internationally celebrated singer likes to convey comprehensive messages of peace and humanism. Off stage, she has been a champion of social projects for many years, #whether in education or performing for the inmates of the high-security Sing Sing Prison in the USA. For her contributions to music education, Joyce DiDonato will receive the “Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward” during the 41st Dresden Music Festival. The award will be presented to the artist on May 28, 2018 as part of her concert “In War & Peace – Harmony Through Music” at Dresden’s Kulturpalast.


“Joyce DiDonato is an artist who does not differentiate between life and art. She devotes the same enthusiasm and the same standard of perfection to social activism as she does to the preparation of her opera roles and concerts. As a colleague, I admire Joyce; on behalf of the Music Festival and our sponsor Glashütte Original, I am delighted at this fantastic prize-winner,” says Jan Vogler, Intendant of the Dresden Music Festival.

Bearing a prize money of 25,000 Euros, the “Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward” will be donated by the watch manufactory Glashütte Original for the 15th time in 2018 and presented in cooperation with the Dresden Music Festival. As in past years, the award is manufactured by two students at the company’s own “Alfred Helwig” School of Watchmaking.

Previous prize winners include such artist personalities as Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, Hélène Grimaud, Hilary Hahn, the fado singer Mariza, Andris Nelsons and the cellist Steven Isserlis.

The Dresden Music Festival takes place from May 10 to June 10, 2018.