Kronberg im Taunus, 23 September 2026 – The Kronberg Festival 2026 opened last night with the presentation of the Pablo Casals Award – For a Better World to Venezuelan pianist and composer Gabriela Montero. The award, endowed with €10,000, was presented at the Casals Forum by Raimund Trenkler, Founder and Artistic Director of Kronberg Academy, and Marcus Stollenwerk, Managing Director at Flossbach von Storch. The laudatory address was delivered by actress and physician Dr. Maria Furtwängler.
The award honours artists who combine exceptional musical achievements with a strong commitment to society. With the Pablo Casals Award, supported by Flossbach von Storch, Kronberg Academy recognises individuals who regard art as a responsibility and thus carry Pablo Casals’ humanistic legacy into the present.
Gabriela Montero: Art and Conscience Belong Together
Gabriela Montero is one of the most distinctive artistic personalities of her generation. Alongside her international career as a pianist and composer, she has publicly championed human rights, democracy and freedom in her native Venezuela for many years.
For Montero, Pablo Casals exemplifies an “artist of conscience” – an artist who does not separate social responsibility from artistic expression. Casals understood that the beauty of music did not absolve artists of their moral responsibility. Montero dedicates the award to Venezuelan human rights lawyer and activist Tamara Sujú Roa and to all those “who fight every day for the restoration of our democracy”, as she wrote in a social media post ahead of the award ceremony.
In doing so, Montero directly embraces Pablo Casals’ understanding of art, humanity and responsibility, which continues to shape the guiding philosophy of Kronberg Academy and the Casals Forum named in his honour.
Artistic Conviction as Courage in Action
For Kronberg Academy, Gabriela Montero’s artistic and social commitment embodies the central idea behind this year’s festival motto, “Courage!”. From 22 September to 4 October, the festival explores how music can give voice to courage, conviction, new beginnings and humanity. At the same time, it commemorates Pablo Casals, whose 150th birthday is celebrated in 2026.
Raimund Trenkler, Founder and Artistic Director of Kronberg Academy, in his speech at the award ceremony:
“Gabriela Montero demonstrates in an impressive way what we mean by courage: she does not separate her art from her convictions. She raises her voice not only through her music, but also wherever freedom, human dignity and responsibility are at stake – even when doing so comes at a personal cost. Pablo Casals showed us that great art and humanity are inseparable. Gabriela Montero carries this conviction into our present with great determination. It is for this that we honour her with the Pablo Casals Award.”
Dr. Maria Furtwängler in her laudatory address (originally delivered in English; translated here from the German text):
“Gabriela Montero reminds us that it is the duty of artists to sound the alarm when the moral compass is thrown off balance – and not to remain silent. It is artists like her who keep the ethical pulse of our civilisation alive and show us that harmony is not merely a pleasing arrangement of notes on paper, but the active, tireless pursuit of human freedom.”
Marcus Stollenwerk, Managing Director at Flossbach von Storch, on the award ceremony:
“We understand responsibility as something that extends beyond our own business. The Pablo Casals Award honours artists who use their talent not only for themselves, but also for social justice – a commitment we share and are proud to support.”
13 Days of “Courage!” – From Oksana Lyniv and Gidon Kremer to Sir András Schiff
Until 4 October, the Kronberg Festival will explore in around 30 concerts the many ways in which courage can find expression through music: as artistic risk-taking, personal conviction and a force for new beginnings, resistance and hope. International artists, outstanding ensembles and exceptional young talents will come together at the Casals Forum and other venues in Kronberg.
On the second day of the festival, the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Oksana Lyniv, will perform with Johannes Moser and Thomas Hampson. Further guests include Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica, Sir András Schiff and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Janine Jansen, the Jerusalem Quartet, Stegreif Orchestra and Fazıl Say. New compositions and world premieres directly engage with the festival’s theme, exploring what artistic courage can mean today.
A particular highlight will be the public Cello Masterclasses from 25 to 30 September. Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz, Ildikó Szabó and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt will work with young cellists from around the world, with selected participants subsequently presenting their work in two closing concerts. Running alongside the festival, the Kronberg Violin Making Biennale from 29 September to 2 October will bring together international violin makers, bow makers and string manufacturers at Kronberg’s Stadthalle.
“Courage!” will also extend beyond the concert stage: readings, discussions, workshops and interactive formats will broaden the musical perspective. The discussion “Casourage” will focus on Pablo Casals as an artistic and human role model – and on the question of what his connection between art, conviction and responsibility can mean today.
Kronberg Festival 2026 “Courage!”
22 September – 4 October 2026
Casals Forum and other venues in Kronberg
Further information:
https://festival.kronbergacademy.de
Partners and Supporters
The Kronberg Festival 2026 is made possible through the commitment of numerous supporters and partners. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for their support.
Supporters
Deutsche Bank Stiftung
Dagmar Westberg Foyer
Flossbach von Storch
Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain
Techem GmbH
Taunus Sparkasse
Liselott und Klaus Rheinberger Stiftung
Media Partners
hr2-kultur
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Deutschlandfunk
Journal Frankfurt
Violin Channel
Partners
Fundació Pau Casals
G. Henle Verlag
Mobility Partner
Euler Group
About Kronberg Academy
Kronberg Academy is one of the world’s leading centres for encounters and education for young violinists, violists, cellists and pianists. Under the auspices of the Kronberg Academy Foundation, young soloists work alongside some of the most influential artistic personalities of our time in Kronberg and can pursue Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees through Kronberg Academy’s study programmes. Concerts, festivals and international performances regularly offer them opportunities to make music together with their artistic role models. Kronberg Academy’s guiding philosophy is inspired by Pablo Casals’ humanistic credo: art, humanity and respect for nature are inseparably connected. This philosophy also finds expression in the Casals Forum, a concert hall with an integrated study centre designed for carbon-neutral operation.
Press Contact
Kronberg Academy Foundation
Beethovenplatz 1
61476 Kronberg im Taunus
Germany
www.kronbergacademy.de
Sacha Knoche
Press and Public Relations
Tel.: +49 (0) 177 - 4137338
s.knoche(at)kronbergacademy.de