Nestlé will continue its effort to open up classical music to young people and support highly gifted young conductors by renewing its sponsorship of Salzburg Festival until 2018.
The company has supported the prestigious annual music and drama event in Austria since 1991 and is its longest-standing sponsor.
In 2010 Nestlé and the Salzburg Festival launched the Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award to offer exceptional young conductors a platform for an international career.
Nestlé Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe said: “The development of the Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award has confirmed that this prize, which was first awarded as early as 2010, offers young conductors a decisive impulse for a promising future.”
“These past five years, during which we have continuously developed the prize, have convinced us to extend our sponsorship activities until 2018.”
The first winner of the award, David Afkham, is now principal conductor of the Spanish National Orchestra, and subsequent winners have also gone on to develop distinguished musical careers.