The musician, composer, and Venezuelan economist José Antonio Abreu, and the British musician Peter Gabriel were named the winners of the 2009 Polar Music Prize, considered the “Noble Prize of Music”. EFE

The jury lauded Abreu for his work, which has been driven “by a vision that the world of classical music can help improve the lives of Venezuela’s children,“ and cited the National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras of Venezuela as an example.

This network has given hundreds of thousands of youngsters “the tools to leave poverty” and has served as model for other Latin American countries.

Born in Valera (Trujillo-Venezuela) in 1939, Maestro Abreu has received other prizes such as the Frankfurt Music Prize in recognition of his work for the Venezuelan youth.

In the case of Gabriel, the organization said he was given the award for his “ground breaking, outward looking and boundary busting artistry.” Awards chief added that he "not only had a significant influence on the development of popular music, he has redefined the very concept.”

Gabriel (Chobham,England, 1950) was a founding member of the progressive rock band Genesis in the 1960s; a group he left in the 1970s to pursue a successful solo career.

He is also known for his human rights activism.

The laureates will receive the prize from His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at a gala ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall on Monday August 31. Each recipient receives a total amount of one million SEK which is equivalent to approximately USD 122, 000.

In 2008, the award was shared by American soprano Renee Fleming and legendary British rock group Pink Floyd.

The Polar Music Prize was created in 1989 by Stig Andersson, editor, composer, and former manager of Swedish group ABBA.

The prize , which has been awarded since 1992, when it went to ex-Beatle Paul McCartney - has also gone to B.B. King, Cyorgy Ligeti, Keith Jarrett, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Pierre Boulez, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Dizzy Gillespie, Sony Rollins, and Gilberto Gil.