Pianist Maria João Pires, one of Portugal’s most distinguished cultural figures, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Helena Vaz da Silva European Award for Raising Public Awareness on Cultural Heritage.
Presented annually by Europa Nostra, in collaboration with the Centro Nacional de Cultura and Clube Português de Imprensa, the award recognizes individuals who, through their artistic and intellectual contributions, foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Europe’s shared cultural heritage.
In honoring Pires with the 2025 Helena Vaz da Silva Award, Europa Nostra praised her for “embodying the universal language of music and its role in preserving cultural identity while creating new possibilities of human connection.” They highlighted her lifelong belief that music must be an act of service: “The greatest lesson I have learned,” Pires has reflected, “is humility before music. We do not own it — we serve it, and in doing so, we find our place within humanity’s shared story.”
Born in Lisbon in 1944, Pires began studying piano at the age of three and gave her first recital at just five years old. She went on to study at the Lisbon Conservatory, the Hochschule für Musik in Munich, and with renowned teachers such as Rosl Schmid and Karl Engel. Her breakthrough came in 1970, when she won the Beethoven Bicentennial Competition in Brussels, launching an international career that has since spanned over five decades. Known for her poetic interpretations of Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Schubert, Pires has performed with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, leaving an indelible mark on the global classical music stage.
Pires’ legacy extends far beyond performance. A passionate educator, she has dedicated much of her life to projects that bring music into the heart of communities. In 1999, she founded the Belgais Center for the Study of the Arts in Portugal, an ambitious initiative dedicated to musical education, artistic collaboration, and outreach to disadvantaged children.
She has expanded her mission abroad, working on educational projects in Belgium and Brazil. “Music is not a privilege of the few,” she has said. “It belongs to everyone. It can transform lives, restore dignity, and build bridges between people who may never otherwise meet.”
The Helena Vaz da Silva Award joins an illustrious list of recognitions Pires has received throughout her career. In 1989, she became the first musician to win Portugal’s Pessoa Prize, one of the country’s highest cultural honors. Internationally, she has been distinguished with multiple Grand Prix du Disque awards for her recordings, the Praemium Imperiale in Music (Japan) in 2024—often described as the “Nobel Prize of the Arts”—and the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance from Northwestern University in 2023. She has also been decorated by the Portuguese state as Dame of the Order of Saint James of the Sword and Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry.
Portuguese leaders were quick to congratulate Pires on this new distinction. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa hailed her as “a timeless voice of Portugal in the world, whose piano has carried the spirit of our culture farther than any words could.” Prime Minister Luís Montenegro added that “Maria João Pires represents the very best of Portugal: artistic excellence, integrity, and a profound dedication to education and heritage. This award is not only hers — it is a recognition of Portugal’s cultural contribution to Europe and the world.”
The award ceremony will take place in Lisbon later this year, bringing together European leaders, artists, and cultural institutions to celebrate Pires’ achievements. The event will not only honor her extraordinary career but also underscore her enduring message: that culture and heritage, when nurtured, remain the most powerful tools for fostering empathy, resilience, and solidarity in a fragmented world.
PAJ/Staff
