„Nikolaus Harnoncourt Prize“ of the canton of Zurich

The prize was created by the anton of Zurich in June 2000 in honour of Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s 70th birthday. The canton wanted to pay tribute to the conductor’s merits for the Zurich Opera House and the general music life in Zurich. The biennial prize is endowed with SF 20.000. Its intention is to encourage young musicians and to recognise extraordinary artistic or scientific achievements in the field of early music execution up to the time of Mozart.

The first laureate (2001) was the Austrian Christina Moder. She was awarded for her commitment in musical work with adolescents in Jamaica.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt chose the Music Camp South Tyrol, operated by Irene Troi Lloyd & Stephen Lloyd, as laureate of the year 2003. The Music Camp is a summer camp for talented adolescents in Brixen/South Tyrol.

In 2005 the Brass Quintet „Passion des Cuivres“ was awarded with the Nikolaus-Harnoncourt-Prize. The musicians are playing brass chamber music of the 19th century on period instruments.