The Metropolitan Opera has chosen soprano Leah Hawkins as the 2024 Beverly Sills Artist Award recipient.
The award carries a cash prize of $50,000 and honors exceptionally talented vocalists with rising Met careers.
Hawkins graduated from the Met's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and debuted in 'Suor Angelica' in 2018.
She performed as a soloist in 'Verdi's Requiem' before taking the lead part of Louise/Betty in the Met premiere of Anthony Davis's 'X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X' during the 2023-2024 season.
She will perform on Tuesday, June 18, at Central Park's SummerStage and on Thursday, June 20, at Brooklyn Bridge Park as part of the Met's 2024 Summer Recital Series. Her previous roles at the Met include Masha in 'The Queen of Spades,' Strawberry Woman in 'Porgy and Bess,' Priestess in 'Aida,' and Musetta in 'La Bohème.'
"I am extremely honored and grateful to be the 2024 recipient of the Beverly Sills Award and to join this incredible group of recipients, all of whom I deeply admire and respect. From the moment I began the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, I've felt the love and support of the entire company," Hawkins said.
Furthermore, she admitted that she is still in awe of Ms. Sills's legacy, as her vocal, artistic, and social prowess inspires people. She hoped that her passion for people and her love for singing reflected the brilliance she inspired not only in her own life but in those she touched on and off stage.
The Beverly Sills Award had been previously given to Ryan Speedo Green, Anthony Roth Costanzo, and Joyce DiDonato.
The award was established to support emerging artists by providing additional funding for vocal training, language studies, travel fees, and other professional expenses.
