Composer Kaija Saariaho was posthumously honored at the Music x Media Industry Awards gala on October 4, 2024, at Tampere Hall. She was posthumously awarded the Achievement of the Year prize for her role as the initiator and inspiration behind the organ project at the Helsinki Music Centre. In 2017, Saariaho donated one million euros towards the construction of new organs for the Music Centre, as a gesture of gratitude for the education she received in Finland and the appreciation for her art. This major donation launched a process that culminated in the unveiling of the new instrument in the main concert hall of the Music Centre in January 2024.
Jan Lehtola from the Helsinki Music Centre Organ Association accepted the award on Saariaho’s behalf. The news of the award was initially announced on the social media channel of the Helsinki Music Centre Organ Association.
More information: Etusivu 2024 – Music x Media