D’Addario Receives Koblenz Lifetime Achievement Award

John D’Addario Jr., vice chairman of D’Addario & Co., Inc. will accept the Koblenz Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of himself, The D’Addario Foundation, and D’Addario & Company, Inc. for their dedication to promoting classical guitar. The ceremony will take place during the 22nd Koblenz International Guitar Festival on June 9, 2014 at the Electoral Castle of Koblenz, Imperial Hall in Koblenz, Germany. Bernard Maillot of Savarez and former president of the French Association of Musical Instrument Manufacturers, will also be awarded, and music will be provided by Alvaro Pierri, esteemed classical guitarist from Uruguay.

The Koblenz International Guitar Festival and Academy proactively raises the standards of artistry and scholarship for benefit of the guitar and its students and supporters. Koblenz’ mission is to encourage artistic excellence, scholarship, and philanthropy by organising events that promote the concert guitar on a worldwide basis. The organization provides leadership for benefit of international concert artists, students, organizations, and supporters alike. Past recipients of the The Koblenz International Guitar Festival and Academy Lifetime Achievement Award include Celín & Pepe Romero in 2009 and Professor Konrad Ragossnig in 2010.

The D'Addario Foundation is steadfast in its commitment to supporting the classical guitar community. In addition to providing performance opportunities to talented classical guitar artists, the foundation commits a portion of its funding and in-kind gifts to support deserving classical guitar organizations throughout the world.

Günter F.C. Forsteneichner of Koblenz International Guitar Academy says: “We are thrilled to present the Koblenz International Guitar Academy Lifetime Achievement Award to D’Addario for their commitment to the classical guitar world in the form of innovative development of strings and by virtue of their generous support and promotion of classical guitar activities throughout the world.”

“It is an honor to accept this recognition on behalf of myself, the entire D’Addario family, and The D’Addario Foundation,” says John D’Addario Jr. “The art of the classical guitar has long been recognized as fundamentally the heart and soul of this versatile instrument. It is a tribute to the many gifted and talented people who dedicate their lives leaving as a legacy their interpretation of the beautiful music written and transcribed for the guitar. To play a small part in its history over several generations has been an honor and privilege we take seriously and intend to continue for many generations to come.”

In addition to the awards ceremony, D’Addario will also celebrate this achievement with a launch party, where they are introducing their new line of ProArte Carbon classical guitar strings and updated classical string packaging. The party took place on Friday, June 6, 2014 at Rhein-Mosel-Halle, Rheinlounge. 

For more information, visit www.daddariofoundation.org, www.daddario.com and www.koblenzguitarfestival.de.