UGA music professor honored with Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts award

University of Georgia Distinguished University Professor Milton Masciadri has been awarded the Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts from the World Cultural Council. The award recognizes outstanding personalities whose work has had a significantly positive impact on the cultural legacy of mankind..

Masciadri, professor of music and strings chair in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music specializing in the double bass, is the first musician to receive the award in the last 20 years.  The award, presented every two years, is an acknowledgment of those who offer positive messages through artistic expression..

An accomplished performer and renowned teacher, Masciadri, is being recognized for his multifaceted career as an artist, cultural ambassador, educator, international leader and author.  In particular, the honor recognizes his work as a UNESCO Artist for Peace and his mentoring and teaching of new generations of young musicians.

“Receiving the highly prestigious Leonardo Da Vinci World Award in the Arts has been a very touching and humbling experience considering that I am first musician to receive it the last in the last 20 years,” said Masciadri. “It is nice to be recognized for things that you do spontaneously from your heart.”

“I can think of no one more fitting to receive this prestigious award than Dr. Masciadri,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead.  “He is a brilliant musician, a gifted teacher, and a global champion for the arts.  We are very proud of this outstanding achievement.”

A third generation double bass player born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Masciadri began his studies with his father at an early age.  By 17, he was co-principal bassist with the Porto Alegre Symphony in Brazil and by 19 he was on the faculty at Brazil’s Federal University. 

“This singular, international honor comes in recognition of a prestigious international career as musician, educator, and arts ambassador,” said Dale Monson, director of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. “Dr. Masciadri's success as a performing musician and spokesman for the arts has opened doors for countless students and developing musicians to join a broad, worldwide community.  His service to the University of Georgia, the nation, and the world has been remarkable."

In 1984, Masciadri came to UGA as a professor of music at the Hodgson School. He is coordinator of the School's International & Study Abroad Program, and directs the UGA International Double Bass Symposium each year.  A UNESCO Artist for Peace since 1998, during the 2014 and 2015, he traveled to Italy, Spain, France, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, China, Russia, Canada, Slovenia and Croatia to perform.

“Being a UNESCO Artist for Peace has been a wonderful experience.  Representing so many countries in the world and doing performances for peace, union and education have been great goals,” he said. “Getting to know so many artists and ambassadors around the world has opened me up to the immense possibilities of humanity.”

Masciadri’s other accomplishments and awards are numerous. He received the title of University Professor at UGA in 2010, the first faculty member in the fine arts to be honored with the title in 62 years; holds the title of "Accademico" of the Accademia Filarmonica in Bologna, Italy – Europe’s oldest musical educational institution; has been awarded the Brazilian Medal of Honor for Academic Achievements for his musical and educational services to the people of Brazil; and in 2011 received the Knighthood honor of the designation of Cavaglieri di San Marco in Venice.

Teaching, an element of his career that began at an early age, is an important and fulfilling part of musical education, he said.

“I have been surrounded by music all my life and teaching has been an important component. First, observing my father and then teaching beginning at age 19 at Brazil’s Federal University,” he said.  “It is beautiful to look back and observe all those formers students and some of them following careers in teaching.”

The award will be presented to Masciadri at the 32nd Award Ceremony of the World Cultural Council, which will be held in conjunction with the Winter Graduation ceremonies of the University of Dundee in Scotland on November 2015. Sir Colin Blakemore, President of the World Cultural Council, members of the directive board and authorities of Dundee University will present the award. Masciadri will receive a diploma, commemorative medal and a check for $10,000.

World Cultural Council

The World Cultural Council is an international organization, based in Mexico, whose objectives are to promote culture, values and goodwill throughout the world. The “Albert Einstein” World Award of Science and the “José Vasconcelos” World Award of Education and the “Leonardo da Vinci” World Award of Arts are one means to this end. These awards honour outstanding personalities whose work has had a significantly positive impact on the cultural legacy of mankind.

The members of the Council include several Nobel laureates. Since its foundation in 1981, the dedicated work of our members has produced a long list of distinguished award-winners, selected on the basis of a careful evaluation of their merits.

The ultimate goal of these awards is to increase the efficient, positive use of knowledge and to achieve a rapprochement among people, nations and governments, regardless of ideology, opinion, religion, race or gender. As a means to this end, the World Cultural Council focuses on the academic and cultural vanguard of today’s world, seeking to enhance relations among prominent people and institutions worldwide.

Authors: Jessica Luton & Joshua Cutchin

Image courtesy of Jay Thomas