The Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Foundation
Music as an inspirational force for mankind was his grand concept – the brilliant composer, Felix Mendelssohn, with his visionary ideas for nearly all facets of life, became one of the most popular musicians of his time at an early age, impressing even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
His style of conducting and orchestra leadership quickly became a shining example throughout Europe.
He founded the first German conservatory in Leipzig in 1843. As Gewandhaus Music Director, he engaged his best musicians as professors in order to maintain and carry on the orchestra's tradition.
In 1991 an association was founded under Kurt Masur's chairmanship to save Felix Mendelssohn's last residence.
The Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Foundation was founded in 2003 with the support of the City of Leipzig, in order to better accomplish the work at the Mendelssohn House. The Foundation is a legally dependent fund-raising endowment and non-perpetual trust which exclusively and directly serves charitable purposes. It is located at the Mendelssohn House in Leipzig.
The goals of the Foundation are to carry on Mendelssohn's cosmopolitan spirit, to preserve and cultivate the artistic and social heritage of the versatile composer internationally, to support musical education and training in the spirit of Felix Mendelssohn and to collect and distribute funds to tax-advantaged corporations and foundations or public corporations, subject to the condition that they use the funds for a purpose which is consistent with the purposes of the Foundation.
In particular, the Foundation oversees the preservation and maintenance of the Mendelssohn House and the museum located in the building.
The goal of the Foundation is further implemented through the support of projects of the Mendelssohn Critical Edition at the Saxon Academy of Arts and Sciences in Leipzig.
Naturally, the work of the Foundation also focuses on the promotion of the Mendelssohn Festival in Leipzig and other concerts.
The awarding of merit scholarships to highly gifted young artists and musicologists and the support of individuals who have rendered outstanding service to Mendelssohn's work are also important priorities of the Foundation.
This includes the annual presentation of the Leipzig Mendelssohn Award to artists, politicians and scholars.
The Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Foundation
Goldschmidt-Str. 12
04109 Leipzig
T 0341 1270-294
www.mendelssohn-stiftung.de