Established in 2015 by the Fritz Gerber Foundation and LUCERNE FESTIVAL, the Fritz Gerber Award annually supports three young musicians in the field of contemporary classical music. Each award winner receives a cash prize of CHF 10,000 and a scholarship to participate in the LUCERNE FESTIVAL ACADEMY, which is worth CHF 10,000. The candidates must have Swiss citizenship or have lived in Switzerland for a minimum of five years. The applications are sent to the LUCERNE FESTIVAL ACADEMY. The selection committee consists of Michael Haefliger, the Executive and Artistic Director of LUCERNE FESTIVAL, the composer and conductor Heinz Holliger, and instrumental coaches from the LUCERNE FESTIVAL ACADEMY.

The Fritz Gerber Foundation has been active since 1999. The Foundation supports talented young people who have permanent residency in Switzerland. It promotes the areas of education (including advanced college training), crafts, culture, and athletics. This support is provided in the form of financial contributions to education, advanced training, and continuing education and is intended to make a difference where public funds are not available to achieve the Foundation’s goals. Since 1999 the Fritz Gerber Foundation has supported some 2,100 talented young people by granting a total of more than CHF 25 million.