The Jan Wallander Prize
In collaboration with the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Handelsbanken has established a music prize, the Jan Wallander Prize, named after the bank’s chief executive and chairman during the years 1970 to 1991.
Every year, the prize is awarded to one of Sweden’s leading students of stringed instruments at one of the country’s music colleges. The prize offers the recipient the opportunity to use an instrument of the very highest class at the start of their professional career.
In the years 2010 – 2013 and 2016 – 2020, the Prize went to students of stringed instruments.
In 2014 and 2015, the award went to two jazz musicians.
In 2021, no prize was awarded due to the pandemic.
In 2022, the award was once again awarded to a young string musician.
In 2023, the Prize was awarded to a jazz pianist.
The 2024 award will be given to a jazz double bassist.