Latvia’s Grand Music Award Celebrates Excellence in Music

The Grand Music Award (GMA) of Latvia, established in 1993, is the nation’s highest state recognition for achievements in music. Initiated by then Minister of Culture Raimonds Pauls, the award annually honors outstanding Latvian musicians and musical contributions. The 2025 awards recognized a diverse range of talent, from lifetime achievements to emerging artists.

2025 Laureates

• For Lifetime Achievement: Larisa Bulava, an outstanding Latvian organist and educator, and composer George the Gray.
• Young Artist of the Year: Singer Eduards Rediko
• Concert of the Year: Tan Dun’s Buddha’s Passion, the closing concert of the 28th International Sacred Music Festival, held on September 5 at the Riga Congress House.
• For Outstanding Interpretation: Cellist Magdalena Ceple for her performance of Concertino for cello and strings by Meczysław Weinberg with Kremerata Baltica on September 14 at the Dzintari concert hall.
• For Outstanding Performance Throughout the Year: Singer Zanda Swede
• For Outstanding Work in an Ensemble: Violinist Magdalena Geck
• New Work of the Year: First Symphony of Jakub Jančevski (Organ Symphony), premiered on September 20 at the Liepāja concert hall Big Amber.
• For Outstanding Performance in Jazz: Percussionist Kaspars Kurdeko.

The History of the Grand Music Award

Raimonds Pauls, who served as the Minister of Culture of Latvia from 1988 to 1993, conceived the award in 1992 as a way to recognize musical excellence following the abolition of honorary titles and their associated payments after the collapse of the USSR. Initially, the award did not include a monetary prize, but sponsors later contributed 400 lats (a significant sum at the time) for the award presented to Mstislav Rostropovich in 2001.

Today, the monetary component of the award is 2,000 euros, but recognition from colleagues and the public remains paramount. The award is presented with a silver statuette created by Armands Jansons, designed in an abstract style representing either a woman or a violin. The ceremony is broadcasted by Latvian Radio 3 Klasika and Latvian National Television.

About Raimonds Pauls

Ojārs Raimonds Pauls, born January 12, 1936, is a Latvian composer and pianist renowned throughout the Baltic countries and Eastern Europe. His compositions have been performed by numerous celebrated singers, including Alla Pugacheva and Laima Vaikule.