Roderick Cox, associate conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, is the winner of this year’s Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.

Considered the most prestigious U.S. honor for young conductors, the $30,000 prize is awarded by the Solti Foundation US to help advance the careers of young maestros. As a Solti Fellow, Cox will receive training and guidance, including professional introductions to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

A native of Macon, Ga., Cox received a master’s degree in conducting from Northwestern University. At Minnesota, he started as assistant conductor in 2015 and rose to associate conductor a year later. Along with a 2017 Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Award, Cox also has received the 2013 Robert J. Harth Conducting Prize from the Aspen Music Festival, a 2014 Chicago Sinfonietta Project Inclusion Conducting Freeman Fellowship and the 2012 Chautauqua Institution David Effron Conducting Fellowship. In November, he will conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic and make his debut with Houston Grand Opera in January.

“Roderick continues to demonstrate the promise we witnessed over a year ago when he was selected as a recipient of a 2017 Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award,” said Penny Van Horn, chair of the Solti Foundation US board. “It is exciting to follow his development on the national and international orchestra and opera stages.”

Established in 2000 to further the legacy of the Hungarian-born maestro, who served as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1969 to 1991, the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award previously has been given to Christopher Allen, Karina Canellakis, James Feddeck and Cristian Macelaru, among others. Several CSO board members and staffers serve on the Solti Foundation US board, including Life Trustees Penny Van Horn, Dietrich Gross, William R. Jentes, Trustee John Aalbregtse and Chorus Director Duain Wolfe. Lady Valerie Solti, widow of Sir Georg, is honorary chair.