Distinctions

Throughout its history, the Reina Sofía School of Music has created various awards and distinctions with which it recognizes the work of various personalities of international relevance in the academic field of music. H.M. Queen Sofía personally presents all the awards at the Course Closing ceremonies or at other events organized for this purpose.

Yehudi Menuhin Prize

In 1999, the Reina Sofía School of Music created the «Yehudi Menuhin Prize for the Integration of the Arts and Education», a pioneering initiative among music awards in Spain, with the aim of recognizing the work of great musicians from any country who have also excelled in the field of music education.

This award honors the memory of the great maestro Yehudi Menuhin, who, in addition to being an extraordinary violinist and conductor, generously dedicated himself to his school in Surrey (England), as well as to other educational initiatives such as the Reina Sofía School itself, of which he was an advisor and one of the most outstanding collaborators.

Candidates for this award must be people of recognized international prestige, both in their artistic career and in musical training. They must be considered both artists and teachers.

Award Winners

School’s Medals of Honor

Each year, the School presents this distinction to personalities and institutions of music and society, in recognition of their work in promoting the dissemination and development of musical culture. The medals, designed by Julio López Hernández together with the School Plaque, are presented at the closing ceremony of each course.

List of award winners

School Plaques

This recognition is granted to the tenured professors of the instrument chairs of the School and to other personalities for their contribution to the School, and is presented at the closing ceremony of the course.

List of award winners

Medal of Emeritus Professor

At the Closing of the Academic Year 2018-2019, Queen Sofía presented the first Medal of Emeritus Professor to Dmitri Bashkirov, professor of the Piano Chair of the Banco Santander Foundation, in recognition of his connection to the Reina Sofía School since its inception in 1991. At the Closing of the Academic Year 2020-2021, Queen Sofía presented the second Medal of Emeritus Professor to Zakhar Bron. At the Closing of the Academic Year 2021-2022, Queen Sofía presented the third Medal of Emeritus Professor to Galina Eguiazarova.

The Medal of Emeritus Professor was designed by Martín Chirino.