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Master Jury Announced for 2025 Aga Khan Music awards
Geneva, Switzerland, June 26, 2025 – The Aga Khan Music Programme has officially announced the esteemed Master Jury for the highly anticipated aga Khan Music Awards. The awards ceremony is slated to take place in London from November 20 to 23, 2025, in collaboration with the EFG london Jazz Festival.
Celebrating Musical Excellence
The Aga Khan Music Awards, now entering their third cycle, stands as a beacon celebrating musical creativity, tradition, and innovation within cultures influenced by Islam across the globe. these awards recognize outstanding talent across diverse musical activities, aiming to ensure the continuity of Muslim musical heritage while fostering its revitalization.
The awards not only honor current achievements but also aim to inspire future generations of musicians and promote cross-cultural understanding through music.
Meet the Master Jury
The seven members of the Master Jury are internationally recognized experts, each bringing a wealth of knowledge from various musical fields, including performance, composition, festival direction, scholarship, and education. This independant body will select the winners for the 2025 awards.
Winners will share a prize fund of $500,000 and gain access to professional development opportunities. These may include commissions, recordings, and support for educational and preservation projects. The jury members are:
- Divya Bhatia: A Mumbai-based festival programmer, producer, performing arts consultant, and actor.
- Sasan Fatemi: An Iranian music scholar specializing in classical and folk music traditions of the Iranophone world.
- David Harrington: Founder, artistic director, and violinist of San Francisco’s Kronos quartet.
- Zeyba Rahman: Philanthropy executive, global arts leader, and specialist in arts grantmaking and community engagement.
- Oumou sangaré: Celebrated multi-award-winning singer-songwriter from mali.
- Jordi Savall: A Doyen of the European early music movement, known for embracing musical influences of the East.
- Tomorrow Shbeir: A Lebanese vocalist, scholar, and choir director specializing in Middle Eastern liturgical, classical, and folk music.
A Vision for the Future
Fairouz Nishanova, Director of the Aga Khan Music Programme and the Aga Khan Music Awards, expressed her enthusiasm for the jury’s selection. “We are thrilled that such a distinguished group of jury members will be selecting our 2025 prize winners,” she stated. Nishanova added, “The Awards – and the Music Programme more broadly – have established a true community, a family, who take inspiration from music’s power to bring cultures together and to speak passionately to our minds, hearts and souls. I look forward to celebrating the best in the world’s diverse musical languages and activities when the Master Jury reveals its decisions.”
The Legacy of the Aga Khan Music Awards
Established in 2018 by His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the Aga Khan Music Awards honor exceptional achievements across diverse musical cultures shaped by Islam. The awards span performance, composition, education, preservation, and devotional practice.
The awards recognize individuals, groups, and institutions whose work sustains and revitalizes musical traditions that promote spiritual insight, social cohesion, and cultural resilience. Nominations are open to all, regardless of religion, race, gender, or age.
Governance and Administration
The aga Khan Music Awards are governed by an Advisory Council co-chaired by His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V and Prince Amyn Aga Khan. The Aga Khan Music Programme administers the awards.
Other members of the council include:
- Ara Guzelimian,Special Advisor and Provost emeritus,The Juilliard School; Artistic and Executive Director,Ojai Music Festival
- Salima Hashmi,Professor Emerita,Lahore Beaconhouse National University
- Shamsh Kassim-Lakha,Chairman of the Board of Trustees,University of Central Asia
- Rachel Cooper,Director,culture as Diplomacy Initiative,asia Society
- Her Excellency Sheikha Hala Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa,Chief Executive Officer,Nuwah Foundation
- Dr. Richard Kurin, Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-at-Large, Smithsonian Institution
Aga Khan Music Awards: Key Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Aga Khan Music Awards 2025 |
| Location | London, UK |
| Dates | November 20-23, 2025 |
| Prize Fund | $500,000 |
| Objective | Celebrate musical creativity and innovation in cultures shaped by Islam |
The Enduring Impact of Music
Music, as a universal language, transcends cultural boundaries and connects people on a deeply emotional level. The Aga Khan Music Awards play a crucial role in not only recognizing exceptional talent but also in fostering a greater gratitude for the rich diversity of musical traditions from Islamic cultures. by providing a platform for these musical expressions, the awards contribute to intercultural dialog and promote a more inclusive and understanding world.
The professional development opportunities offered to the winners-such as commissions, recordings, and educational support-ensure that these musical traditions continue to thrive and evolve for future generations. This investment in the future of music helps preserve cultural heritage and encourages artistic innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the Aga Khan Music Awards?
The Aga Khan music Awards celebrate musical creativity, tradition, and innovation in cultures shaped by Islam worldwide.
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When and where will the 2025 Aga Khan Music Awards take place?
the 2025 Aga Khan Music Awards will be held in London from November 20 to 23, 2025, in partnership with the EFG London Jazz Festival.
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What is the prize fund for the Aga Khan Music Awards winners?
The winners of the Aga Khan Music Awards will share a prize fund of $500,000 and gain access to professional
