Arvo Pärt receives Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal

TALLINN – Composer Arvo Pärt has been awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal, one of the highest international distinctions in music.

Angela Dixon, chair of the Royal Philharmonic Society, presented the medal at a special event held at the Arvo Pärt Center at Laulasmaa, not far from Tallinn, on Thursday.

The medal recognizes Arvo Pärt’s unique and timeless musical language that transcends national borders and genres to touch the hearts of listeners worldwide.

During the presentation, Angela Dixon highlighted how Arvo Pärt has inspired young composers to recognise the power of their own voices. She noted that the Royal Philharmonic Society admires the spiritual purity of Pärt's music, which, rooted in his faith and the tradition of sacred music, captivates people from all backgrounds and crosses national boundaries.

"Your meticulously-crafted creations communicate such clarity and beauty, drawing us to contemplate the very essence of music itself," Dixon said. 

Arvo Pärt’s son, Michael Pärt, thanked the society on his father's behalf, stating: "This Gold Medal is not just an award; it is a recognition of that timeless quality in his music, a music that is deeply connected to traditions while also remaining utterly personal, utterly unique. My father is deeply moved by this honor, and he thanks you all from the bottom of his heart for this great recognition."

First awarded in 1871, the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal is presented for outstanding musical achievements to musicians and composers of any nationality. It features the image of composer Ludwig van Beethoven, whose Ninth Symphony was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society.

Recipients are selected by the Board and Council of the Royal Philharmonic Society and approved by the society's members. Previous recipients include musical greats such as Johannes Brahms, Edward Elgar, Richard Strauss, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jean Sibelius, Sergei Prokofiev, Igor Stravinsky, Benjamin Britten, Leonard Bernstein, Olivier Messiaen and Pierre Boulez.

More recent recipients include Sofia Gubaidulina, György Kurtág, Jessye Norman, Daniel Barenboim, Janet Baker, Sir Simon Rattle, András Schiff, John Williams and Anne-Sophie Mutter.

Attendees at the ceremony at the Arvo Pärt Center included Angela Dixon, chair of the Royal Philharmonic Society, together with CEO James Murphy, Arvo Pärt,  Michael Pärt, son of Arvo Pärt and chairman of the council of the Arvo Pärt Center, Ifeanyi Anne Agboola, deputy head of the British embassy in Tallinn, Tõnu Kaljuste, artistic director and the chief conductor of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, and Anu Kivilo, chair of the board of the Arvo Pärt Center.