The Wagner Society of New York has announced the winners of its coveted singers’ awards. Following auditions held at Merkin Hall on Tuesday, May 20, mezzo-soprano Sadie Cheslak was awarded the Robert Lauch Memorial Fund Award ($6,000) and tenor Alec Carlson was awarded the Ursula Springer Award ($3,000).
Encouragement grants of $1000 were extended to tenor Michael Deshield and soprano Allyson Bennett. Grants of $500 were made to soprano Lynnesha Crump, mezzo-soprano Kate Farrar, mezzo-soprano Ani Kushyan, soprano Danielle Lombardi, contralto Ema Mitrovic, soprano Celeste Morales, and bass-baritone Johannes Schwarz.
The judging panel comprised Cori Ellison, co-Chair; Tyson Deaton, co-Chair; Deborah Surdi, co-Chair; Ken Benson; Roger Malouf. Our special guest judge was the distinguished Wagnerian soprano and vocal teacher, Jane Eaglen.
Applications were received from nearly thirty artists, and after a rigorous review, twelve were selected to take part in the final auditions. The Society looks forward to welcoming Ms. Cheslak to perform a vocal recital in Winter 2025.