Elias Brown receives Solti Award
Elias Brown has been named the recipient of the 2026 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, the largest grant presented annually to an American conductor in the early stages of their career, made by the Solti Foundation US. He previously received the foundation’s Career Assistance Awards in 2023 and 2024.
Announcing the award, Solti Foundation US Board Chair Penny Van Horn said: ‘Since he first came to our attention, Elias has continued to build a strong and expanding career. Perceptive and imaginative in his work, Elias has continued to expand his repertoire and develop relationships with orchestras and festivals, demonstrating the kind of artistic growth and creativity that were hallmarks of Sir Georg Solti.’
Brown said: ‘Since I was first named a grant recipient by the Solti Foundation US in 2023, I’ve been deeply grateful to this organisation for placing their trust in my talent and potential. As I receive this award, I aim to carry forward Sir Georg Solti’s legacy with a wholehearted dedication to the search for truth in music and to the building and renewal of our musical institutions. This award reaffirms my commitment to lifelong growth as an artist, thinker, and leader, and reinforces my belief in using the power of music to tell important stories about the world we live in, to connect communities and art forms, and to grow our capacity to listen to ourselves and each other.’
Established in 2000 to honour the memory of Sir Georg Solti, the foundation has awarded nearly $2 million to American conductors through grants and residencies. Its mission is to discover musicians who ‘follow a path similar to that followed by Sir Georg himself’ and focuses on their long-term development. The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award includes a $30,000 grant, professional mentoring and introductions to the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where Solti served as Music Director from 1969 to 1991. Previous recipients include Gemma New, Cristian Măcelaru, Roderick Cox and Karina Canellakis.
