April 2025. At the final concert on 6 April as part of the Heidelberger Frühling 2025 music festival, baritone Jonas Müller was awarded this year's "Musikpreis der deutschen Wirtschaft". 

The three finalists Tabea Wink (recorder), Clarissa Bevilacqua (violin) and Jonas Müller impressed both the audience and the jury with their musical diversity and virtuoso playing. The finalists were accompanied by the Ensemble Resonanz, conducted by Gregor A. Mayrhofer. The concert was especially remarkable for its three distinct program concepts curated by the soloists. The jury consisted of artistic directors from the Kulturkreis Tour's partner festivals, expert advisors, and representatives from the Kulturkreis's music committee. The music funding programme of the Kulturkreis is supported by G. Henle Verlag, the Peter Klöckner Foundation and Dr Arend Oetker. 

Starting in 2024, the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft im BDI e.V. (Association of Arts and Culture in the Federation of German Industries e.V.) and G. Henle Publishers are linked through a sponsoring partnership at whose centre is the “Kulturkreis Tournee”. 

The young musicians who make it through the selection process will be given the opportunity to perform at renowned festivals such as the Beethovenfest Bonn, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, the Rheingau Musik Festival, the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspielen, the Heidelberger Frühling or the Lucerne Festival as part of the tour.

This prize provides powerful support at the beginning of their musical career and is aimed at exceptional talents with clear potential for a successful career. It enables the musicians to gain a range of experiences on stage – from experimental performances to large-scale solo concerts with orchestral accompaniment.
https://www.kulturkreis.eu/en/

Photo: Felix Henle, Chairman of the Board of the Günter Henle Foundation, with Jonas Müller.

Photo credit © Nico Rademacher