The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary, will present its 2013 Ernst von Siemens Prize to Mariss Jansons on June 4. The president of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts will present the prize, worth €250,000, to the Royal Concertgebouw’s chief conductor at Munich’s Prinzregententheater, where Jansons will also conduct his other orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony in Ligeti’s Concert Românesc.

Mariss Jansons 'has never surrendered his honesty and has always kept hold of essentials: with a deeply human approach to art,' said Ernst von Siemens board of trustees chairman Thomas Angyan. 'He allows this deeply human approach to arise from the music itself and makes it perceptible to all his audience as well as all his co-performers. It is not least for this reason that he is revered and loved.’

Jansons added: ‘In view of the previous prize winners I almost feel embarrassed to be included on this list. The prize is a great recognition of my work and an honour for me. I also see this prize as further motivation.’

The Ernst von Siemens Prize honours a composer, performer or musicologist each year for his or her exceptional contribution to the profession. The list of previous winners includes Benjamin Britten, Mstislav Rostropovich, Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, Daniel Barenboim and Anne-Sophie Mutter.

The Ernst von Siemens Foundation will also award three Composers' Prizes in 2013, each worth €35,000 - to Swiss national David Philip Hefti, Canadian Samy Moussa and Serb Marko Nikodijevic. Nearly 120 projects around the world will receive support totalling €3m from the Foundation in its 40th anniversary year.