British-German conductor Sir Simon Rattle, 70, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize, recognising a lifetime of achievement and influence in the world of classical music.

The €250,000 award, to be presented on May 17 at Munich’s Herkules Hall, honours Rattle’s decades-long commitment to musical excellence, innovation and education. Currently Chief Conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rattle has also led the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra and transformed the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra into a world-class ensemble.

Sir Simon Rattle conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in Sydney, 2023. Photo © Prudence Upton.

The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation praised Rattle’s “exceptional interpretations, openness to diverse genres and unparalleled dedication to educational work.”

A long-time advocate of contemporary music, Rattle has consistently championed 20th- and 21st-century composers and commissioned new works. His passion for music education is equally central: initiatives such as the Berlin Philharmonic’s Digital Concert Hall and the acclaimed Rhythm Is It! documentary, which captured a youth production of The Rite of Spring, have broadened access to...