The Solti Foundation U.S. announces 2022 The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award

Earl E. Lee,

Associate Conductor of Boston Symphony Orchestra,

announced by

The Solti Foundation U.S.

as 2022 recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award

Evanston, IL – The Solti Foundation U.S. today revealed the 2022 recipient of the organization’s major grant, The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award. Announced by Foundation Board Chair Penny Van Horn and Elizabeth Buccheri, Artistic and Awards Committee Chair, from their respective homes, the grant continues to help up-and-coming leaders of tomorrow. Given annually to a single promising American conductor 38 years of age or younger, The Sir Georg Solti Fellow, as it is also called, provides essential career guidance, industry connections and a cash purse of $30,000 to allow grant recipients to further hone their skills.

Ms. Van Horn stated, “The Foundation's mission since Day One has been to identify, support and promote emerging talent. We are thrilled to continue to provide the young conductors with the tools needed to further pursue their careers, and further hone their musicianship. Of special importance are the industry connections this award provides. Having kept an eye on his career for several years, we are pleased to announce Earl Lee as this year's recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award. Congratulations Earl!"

The Foundation has diligently helped American conductors in the early stages of their careers for over two decades. A recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award may use the financial portion of the grant in various ways to specifically advance his/her career, whether it be further studies, language study, purchases of scores, or travel. The Foundation's Board of Directors comprises experts from all areas of the classical music industry, and therefore the Award also brings door-opening introductions within the industry and valuable access to professional mentors.

Ms. Buccheri stated, "Despite the pandemic, classical music continues to move forward. It has been rewarding to see the continued growth of our awardees and the continuation of new applications by artists we have not had contact with in the past.

Earl, we look forward to watching your career grow. Congratulations!"

About The Solti Foundation U.S.
Now in its 22nd year working with outstanding young U.S. conductors to further develop their talent and careers, The Solti Foundation U.S. is the foremost organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to helping young conductors. It is the first organization to have created an award in the legendary conductor's honor.

Established in 2000, the Foundation honors the memory of the legendary conductor Sir Georg Solti by lending significant support to career-ready young American musicians. In 2004, the Foundation concentrated the focus of its award program to solely assist talented young American conductors early in their professional careers (its original mission was of a more general arts nature). Since then, it has awarded over one million dollars through grants and residencies to American conductors.

The Foundation endeavors to seek out those musicians who have chosen to follow a path similar to that followed by Sir Georg himself. In keeping with the spirit of Sir Georg's active approach to his career, young conductors must apply to be considered for the awards.

While dedicated to identifying and assisting young conductors early on, the Foundation is also concerned with the long-term development of its award recipients. It continues to offer support, and maintains a constant interest in their growth and achievements.

The Foundation currently awards the following grants annually:

The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award
The prestigious $30,000 grant is given annually to a single promising American conductor 38 years of age or younger. It is the largest grant currently given to American conductors in the formative years of their careers. The Award, also known as The Solti Fellow , includes door-opening introductions, ongoing professional mentoring, and introductions to two of Chicago's most prestigious performing organizations: Lyric Opera of Chicago and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Past recipients include Gemma New, Aram Demirjian, Yaniv Dinur, Roderick Cox, Christopher Allen, Karina Canellakis, Vladimir Kulenovic, Cristian Macelaru, James Feddeck, Case Scaglione, Eric Nielsen, and Anthony Barrese.

The Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award
The amount of the Career Assistance Awards varies.

The Elizabeth Buccheri Opera Residency
Introduced in the 2014-15 season, the program places former award recipients with a distinguished opera house for one-on-one mentoring and coaching of an opera during the company's professional season. Recipients have worked with numerous stellar opera companies renowned for their artistic excellence across the country, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee, North Carolina Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and Michigan Opera Theatre. Conductors cannot apply but are instead selected by the Artistic and Awards Committee.

The Solti Foundation U.S. is the only American Foundation to grant these kinds of awards each year to young American conductors. Only citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are career-ready artists in the field of conducting are eligible to apply.

Applicants for all Solti Foundation U.S. awards must be able to demonstrate that he/she is developing a career as a symphonic/operatic conductor. All applications from The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award are considered for a Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award . Applications are reviewed by an awards committee comprised of a panel of professionals with broad musical and conducting experience. The Foundation reserves the right to withhold a grant in any given year if the Awards Committee does not find suitable applicants in one or more of the various award categories.

For further details on The Solti Foundation U.S., its past awardees, their biographical information, the Foundation's newsletter, as well as guidelines for the upcoming 2022 Awards and a downloadable application form, please visit the Foundation's website at: www.soltifoundation.us.

Click here for full biography of Earl Lee.

Click here for photos.

Click here for pdf of release.

Press Contact for The Solti Foundation U.S.:
Laura Grant, Grant Communications
917.359.7319; Laura@grant-communications.com