The Léonie Sonning Music Prize, or Sonning Award, which is recognized as Denmark's highest musical honor, is given annually to an international composer or musician.
[2] Laureates are now selected by the directors of The Léonie Sonning Music Foundation, which was founded in 1965.
[3] The diploma is in Danish, and the prize includes EUR 133,000 (US$ 146,400) and a monotype by the Danish painter Maja Lisa Engelhardt.
Honorees are treated to a concert, typically held in Copenhagen, and are often invited to teach a master class of Danish musicians.
The award is not directly related to the Sonning Prize, which is the Danish award presented by a foundation in memory of Sonning's late husband, Carl Johan Sonning [da].