The Ernst von Siemens Music Prize is a international prize honors a composer, performer, or musicologist who has made a distinguished contribution to the world of music. This annual music prize established in 1972 is given by the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste (Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts) on behalf of the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung (Ernst von Siemens Foundation for Music established by Ernst von Siemens). 2013 is 40th anniversary of the prize.

Mariss Jansons ‘has never surrendered his honesty and has always kept hold of essentials: with a deeply human approach to art,’ said Ernst von Siemens board of trustees chairman Thomas Angyan. ‘He allows this deeply human approach to arise from the music itself and makes it perceptible to all his audience as well as all his co-performers. It is not least for this reason that he is revered and loved.’

Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons (born 14 January 1943) is a Latvian conductor, In October 2002, Jansons was named the sixth chief conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (KCO, Dutch abbreviation) of Amsterdam, As of October 2012, whilst no published reports of the continued length of Jansons’ tenure with the KCO have been given, Jansons continues to serve as the orchestra’s Chief Conductor. After the prize won Jansons said: ‘In view of the previous prize winners I almost feel embarrassed to be included on this list. The prize is a great recognition of my work and an honour for me. I also see this prize as further motivation.’

Jansons had conducted the Vienna New Year’s Concert for the second time in 2012. The concert was televised worldwide in seventy-three countries.

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