Maestro gives away his national prize to Spanish music education
mainThe Spanish conductor Juanjo Mena was awarded the Premio Nacional de Musica last night in Madrid.
It’s worth 30,000 Euros.
Before the award touched his hands, he announced that he was giving it away to primary music education.
‘I had lessons when I was seven,’ said Juanjo. ‘If I became a prestigious music director, it is because money was invested from below.’
El dinero lo destinaré a la enseñanza de música a tempranas edades, como se hizo conmigo cuando tenía siete años de manera altruista. Ahora todo el mundo se puede vanagloriar de un director de orquesta prestigioso, pero todo viene porque hay que invertir desde abajo.
More here.
Juanjo Mena, 51, is chief conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cincinnati May Festival.
A fine musician and a moral human being. Not a totally unusual combination but praiseworthy nonetheless.
It could be said louder but no more clear. Congratulations Maestro! For both things: award and personal decission.