The award was presented to Nikolai Tokarev during a gala concert at the “Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt” in Berlin with the Philharmonia of the Nations under the musical direction of Prof Justus Frantz.

International VIP guests such as Montblanc Brand Ambassador Eva Green as well as Michael and Pat York, actor Clemens Schick, topmodel Franziska Knuppe, Minu Barati-Fischer, designers Ivan Strano, Klaus Unrath and Jette Joop were attending the gala concert.

Among the jury members were Prof Justus Frantz – the musical director of the Philharmonia of the Nations, internationally acclaimed percussionist Prof Li Biao and music professor, composer and concert pianist Prof Jürgen Christ.

The PRIX Montblanc includes $10,000 in prize money and the Montblanc Donation Pen "Arturo Toscanini," which honours outstanding personalities in the world of classical music and, at the same time, serves to promote cultural and artistic projects – due to the donation made with each purchase.