D’Addario has announced that John D’Addario Jr., Vice Chairman of D’Addario & Co., Inc., accepted 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 took place during the 22nd Koblenz International Guitar Festival on June 9 at the Electoral Castle of Koblenz, Imperial Hall in Koblenz, Germany. In addition to the awards ceremony, D’Addario also celebrated this achievement with a special launch party, where the company introduced the new line of ProArte Carbon classical guitar strings and updated classical string packaging. The party took place on June 6.
The Koblenz International Guitar Festival and Academy’s mission is to encourage artistic excellence, scholarship and philanthropy by organizing events that promote the concert guitar on a worldwide basis. 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, it 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 said, “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,” said 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.”