Nicola Benedetti, a violinist, has been honored with the 2023 Edinburgh Award for her exceptional service as the Director of the Edinburgh International Festival and her remarkable contributions to the city of Edinburgh, whether on a national or international scale.

At just 36 years of age, Benedetti is also the youngest person ever to receive this award. She will be presented with a cup bearing the engraving of the city's Lord Provost, and her handprints will be embedded in a stone, to be displayed at Edinburgh's City Chambers.

Previous recipients of this prestigious award include well-known figures such as author J. K. Rowling, scientist and human rights activist Sir Geoff Palmer, and painter Dame Elizabeth Blackadder.

Born in Scotland with Italian heritage, Nicola Benedetti started her violin lessons at the age of four and furthered her studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School, where she was mentored by Lord Menuhin and Natasha Boyarskaya.

Throughout her career, particularly after winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year award in 2004 at the age of 16, Benedetti has toured worldwide with some of the most renowned orchestras and artists. In 2017, she became the youngest recipient of the Queen's Medal for Music and has received nine honorary degrees.

She established the Benedetti Foundation, which aims to enhance musical education in the UK by providing group music training. The foundation's annual Baroque Virtual Sessions are open to musicians of all ages and skill levels, with a specific focus on regions of the UK where access to high-quality music education is often limited due to geographical or financial constraints.

Upon receiving the Edinburgh Award, Benedetti expressed her deep honor and gratitude, emphasizing the significance of the arts in our lives and their contribution to the cultural landscape of the city. She pledged to continue her mission of welcoming people from all backgrounds into the world of the arts and providing them with unforgettable artistic experiences.

Robert Aldridge, the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh and chair of the award's panel, expressed his delight at Nicola Benedetti's acceptance of the award, highlighting her role as a leader in the Edinburgh International Festival and as a globally renowned musician who has represented the city with pride, dedication, and skill.