Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša receives classical music ‘Oscar’ and Bavarian Order of Merit

Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša received the international Artist of the Year award in Bamberg, often described as the “Oscar of classical music”, along with the Bavarian Order of Merit at a ceremony on Wednesday night.

Hrůša was named Artist of the Year in January by the jury of the International Classical Music Awards. The Bavarian Order of Merit is one of the highest honours awarded by the German state of Bavaria and has no more than two thousand living recipients.

Hrůša is among the world’s most sought-after conductors. The American magazine Musical America named him Conductor of the Year for 2026, and from the 2028–2029 season he will become chief conductor and music director of the Czech Philharmonic.