The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, also referred to as the Sir Georg Solti Fellow, has been aiding emerging American conductors at the outset of their careers for 24 years.

François López-Ferrer, currently serving as Resident Conductor at the Académie of the Opéra de Paris, has been named the recipient of this year's award.

Penny Van Horn, Chair of the Solti Foundation U.S. Board, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “The Solti Foundation U.S. is delighted to announce François López-Ferrer as the 15th recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award. Amidst a competitive pool of applicants, François distinguished himself among this year’s highly qualified candidates. Demonstrating exceptional dedication, talent, and commitment to symphonic and operatic music, I am honored, on behalf of the Foundation, to extend congratulations to François.”

This award offers recipients career mentorship, networking opportunities, and a $30,000 grant to further develop their skills. The monetary prize can be utilized for various purposes, such as advanced studies, language learning, score acquisition, or travel.

Furthermore, under the guidance of the Foundation's Board of Directors, awardees will have access to industry experts and mentors.

Past recipients of the award include Keitaro Harada, Earl Lee, 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.

François López-Ferrer, a Spanish-American conductor, previously held positions as Associate Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival. His prior roles include Associate Conductor of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Chile and Principal Conductor of the Ballet Nacional Chileno. López-Ferrer participated as an inaugural apprentice in the Verbier Festival’s 2018 Conductor Mentorship Program and received the Career Assistance Award twice from the Solti Foundation U.S. He was also the inaugural recipient of the Neeme Järvi Prize in 2015 at the Menuhin-Gstaad Festival. His full biography is available below.

López-Ferrer was featured in the prestigious 2022 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview organized by the League of American Orchestras alongside the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

Expressing his gratitude, López-Ferrer stated, “I am deeply honored to receive the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award. Over the past three years, the steadfast support of the Solti Foundation U.S. has been instrumental in shaping my artistic journey, refining my skills, and fostering my growth as an artist. This award is a tribute to Maestro Solti’s enduring legacy of musical excellence, reminding us of the heights of achievement we can reach as the next generation of musical leaders.

"This recognition inspires me to further develop my artistic vision and dedication to bringing classic masterpieces to life while advocating for contemporary voices. I am profoundly moved and grateful for the opportunity to continue my artistic journey with passion and commitment. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Solti Foundation U.S. for their invaluable support and belief in my potential.”