The honorary award of music has been granted to Iranian singer Mohammad-Reza Shajarian at Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. During the event Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa described music as a suitable way for human globalisation and maintaining relations among people and civilisations. Mohammad-Reza Shajarian is an Iranian classical singer, composer and master of Persian traditional music. He is called "Iran's greatest living maestro of Persian classical music." He is also known for his skills in Persian calligraphy, and humanitarian activities.