Grammy award-winner Kalhor gets ‘Isaac Stern Human Spirit’ award

Compiled from Dispatches

Grammy Award-winning Iranian musician Kayhan Kalhor was officially presented the ‘Isaac Stern Human Spirit’ award on Saturday. According to Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition, Iran’s kamancheh virtuoso Kalhor and the Xiaoshuijing Miao Farmers Choir were named joint recipients of the award.

A founding member of the Silk Road Ensemble, Kalhor has devoted his life to the popularization of traditional Persian music in the West.

Michael Stern, the son of Isaac Stern, received the award on behalf of Kalhor since the Iranian musician is currently preparing his latest concerts. The closing ceremony of the event will be held today.

Kalhor won the best World Music award for ‘Sing Me Home’ album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in 2017.

Xiaoshuijing Miao Farmers Choir, from the Yunnan Province of Southern China, whose members have little to no formal musical training, meet three to four times a week for traditional, popular and Christian singing sessions.

This year’s panel of jury included conductor Long Yu, cellist Yo-yo Ma — plus members of the Stern family.

The Einstein Orchestra founders, Taixiang Wu and Zhengquan Du, and Afghan conductor Negin Khpalwak are the previous recipients of this award.

First established in 2016, the award aims to honor individuals or groups who make notable contribution to understanding of humanity through music.

The Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition (SISIVC) is a biennial violin competition in commemoration of violinist Isaac Stern, which takes place in Shanghai, China.