For three generations, the name Sennheiser has been synonymous with progress and pioneering work in the area of electroacoustics. And for over 60 years the music industry in particular has benefited from the innovative recording and transmission systems developed by the family-run business. In recognition of their achievements, the Sennheiser family was awarded the Praetorius Music Prize of the State of Lower Saxony on 3 September by Lower Saxony’s Minister for Science and Culture, Lutz Stratmann, in a ceremony at Hannover’s State Opera.

(l/r): Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser und Prof. Dr. Jörg Sennheiser
Photo: Georg Neumann GmbH, Petra Schramböhmer

“Everyone involved in music in Lower Saxony would like to thank the people who have enriched our lives with their skill and their commitment.” These were Minister Stratmann’s words as he opened the ceremony to award the 2007 Praetorius Music Prize. The Sennheiser company was honoured with a special prize for its innovative audio solutions and recording technologies. The Sennheiser family has made a substantial contribution to the international music scene since the company was founded in Wennebostel in Lower Saxony. Prof. Dr. Jörg Sennheiser, who accepted the prize, said in his speech that the three generations of the family wanted to increase their prize money to 10,000 euros and use it to support the Elementary Music Education course at Hannover’s University of Music and Drama (HMTH) where teachers are trained in early years music learning. “By doing this, as well as developing what could be called the professional ‘hardware’ for musicians, the Sennheiser families would like to make a ‘software’ contribution to creative activities associated with music,” said Prof. Dr. Jörg Sennheiser.

Prize money for early years music learning
There are currently 18 students from seven countries on the Elementary Music Education course. “Studying Elementary Music Education at Hannover’s University of Music and Drama gives students the skills to creative activities with music in the specialist field of early years music teaching”, explained Prof. Gudrun Schröfel, Director of Elementary Music Education at HMTH. “Our graduates pass on basic music skills to pre-school and primary school children in music schools, nurseries and church organisations, with the emphasis on singing, movement to music and dancing, and encouragement towards playing instruments — areas in a child’s personal development that really must be promoted more intensively. That is why it is great and very important that we have companies like Sennheiser in our region committed to music education and music-making.”

In his eulogy, the musician Heinz Rudolf Kunze also thanked the Sennheiser family, on behalf of all artists, for their work over more than 60 years promoting a great sound. The Wedemark-based audio specialist shared the award with producer and director Hans-Peter Lehmann. Other prize-winners include clarinettist Sabine Meyer, director Anna-Sophie Brüning, rock group Madsen, and music festival organisers “Gemeinschaft der Freunde der Kammermusik in Oldenburg e.V.”. Minister Stratmann summed up what motivated the various prize-winners: “Music is food for the soul”.

Sabine Meyer

Anna-Sophie Brüning

Madsen

Download Press Release:
press_release_Praetorius_engl.zip (2,16 MB)

The Sennheiser Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. A family firm established in 1945 and based in Wedemark, near Hannover, the company recorded sales of over 356 million euros in 2006, 82% of which was generated abroad. Sennheiser employs over 1,800 people worldwide, around 55% of whom are in Germany. Sennheiser has manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland and the USA and is represented worldwide by subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark (Nordic), Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as through long-term trading partners in other countries. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones), K + H Vertriebs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (Klein + Hummel studio monitors, installed sound) and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centres).

Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co.  KG 
Edelgard Marquardt  
Am Labor 1, 30900 Wedemark 
Tel: +49 (5130) 600-329 
E-mail: marquare@sennheiser.com 
 
University of Music and Drama
Hannover (HMTH)
Christina Dohmann
Emmichplatz 1, 30175 Hannover
Tel: 0511 / 3100 281
christina.dohmann@hmt-hannover.de