Keith Jarrett

The 12th Annual Polar Music Prize Winner

News Story by: Unknown User

Venue: Nationally Televised (Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, Sweden)

May 12, 2003 - The POLAR MUSIC PRIZE was presented on Monday 12th May 2003 for the twelfth consecutive year. The prizewinner was Keith Jarrett.

Keith Jarrett's first manager, 84 year-old George Avakian, read the prizewinner citation. Jarrett received prize money in the amount of one million Swedish Crowns. The prize was given to the Laureate by His Majesty The King of Sweden during a nationally-televised ceremony at Berwaldhallen, Stockholm. Her Majesty The Queen, HRH Crown Princess Victoria, and HRH Princess Lilian were also present for the festivities.

High-ranking diplomats joined the many dignitaries and celebrities from industry, music, show business and media attending the event. Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, Minister for Industry Leif Pagrotsky, Sweden's Ambassador to the U.S. Jan Eliasson, Tal Finney (Director of Policy & Senior Advisor to the Governor of California, Gray Davis), Jay Berman (Chairman & CEO, IFPI) and Stuart Watson (Managing Director, Zomba International Record Group) were amongst those who came to honour the Laureate.

The Polar Music Prize is the world's most unique and prestigious prize and was founded by Stig "Stikkan" Anderson through the donation he gave to The Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Anderson created the prize to recognize and honour outstanding achievements in music, at the same time as bringing together the different worlds of music. Another vision he had is being realised more and more each year. He wanted to see a celebration of music as such by using music and musically-inspired functions lasting several days.

During the weekend preceding the ceremony, Polar Music Prize Days took place for the first time this year. At the Stockholm Cultural Centre (Kulturhuset), the general public enjoyed seminars, concerts and an exhibition on the life and career of Keith Jarrett. Jarrett took part in an open dialogue with those present at a seminar during Sunday afternoon, 11th May.

For more information: http://www.polarmusicprize.com

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