Post by CMF Newsman on Apr 12, 2012 13:25:53 GMT -5
The Richard Tucker Music Foundation is pleased to announce that lyric soprano Ailyn Pérez is the winner of the 2012 Richard Tucker Award. This prestigious prize, which has been referred to as "the Heisman Trophy of opera," carries the foundation's most substantial cash award, of $30,000, and is conferred annually on an American opera singer at the threshold of a major international career.
Previous winners include such luminaries of the opera world as Renée Fleming, Deborah Voigt, David Daniels, Joyce DiDonato, Lawrence Brownlee and Angela Meade. The 2009 Richard Tucker Award went to Pérez's husband and frequent collaborator, tenor Stephen Costello, so her award renders the couple dubbed "America's fastest-rising husband-and-wife opera stars" (Associated Press) the first to have two Richard Tucker Awards on the mantelpiece – one for each.
Furthermore, Pérez is the first Hispanic singer to receive the award in its 34-year history. The foundation is also pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 Richard Tucker Career Grants and Sara Tucker Study Grants, who were selected by audition this week at New York's 92nd Street Y. A complete list of recipients is provided below.
"We are thrilled to be giving the Richard Tucker Award to Ailyn Pérez, a wonderful young soprano who sings with incredible beauty and heart," said Barry Tucker, President of the Richard Tucker Music Foundation and son of the great American tenor for whom it is named. "I first heard Ailyn singing La traviata at our auditions and was really impressed and moved, and I got to know her much better when Stephen Costello, her husband, won the Richard Tucker Award three years ago. We are so happy to be able to recognize her talent today. I know she will make the Richard Tucker Foundation proud."
www.wrcbtv.com/story/17395105/hixson-resident-wins-very-prestigious-opera-award
Previous winners include such luminaries of the opera world as Renée Fleming, Deborah Voigt, David Daniels, Joyce DiDonato, Lawrence Brownlee and Angela Meade. The 2009 Richard Tucker Award went to Pérez's husband and frequent collaborator, tenor Stephen Costello, so her award renders the couple dubbed "America's fastest-rising husband-and-wife opera stars" (Associated Press) the first to have two Richard Tucker Awards on the mantelpiece – one for each.
Furthermore, Pérez is the first Hispanic singer to receive the award in its 34-year history. The foundation is also pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 Richard Tucker Career Grants and Sara Tucker Study Grants, who were selected by audition this week at New York's 92nd Street Y. A complete list of recipients is provided below.
"We are thrilled to be giving the Richard Tucker Award to Ailyn Pérez, a wonderful young soprano who sings with incredible beauty and heart," said Barry Tucker, President of the Richard Tucker Music Foundation and son of the great American tenor for whom it is named. "I first heard Ailyn singing La traviata at our auditions and was really impressed and moved, and I got to know her much better when Stephen Costello, her husband, won the Richard Tucker Award three years ago. We are so happy to be able to recognize her talent today. I know she will make the Richard Tucker Foundation proud."
www.wrcbtv.com/story/17395105/hixson-resident-wins-very-prestigious-opera-award