Welcome
The George London Foundation for Singers is a non-profit organization which has been giving awards for over thirty-five years to outstanding young professional opera singers during their early careers, often a financially difficult time. The goal of the London Foundation, the support and nurturing of young singers, was an abiding interest of the great American bass-baritone George London, who devoted a great part of the time and energy of his later years to this purpose.
The Foundation sponsors an annual juried competition held each spring in New York City for American and Canadian singers and more than $80,000 is awarded annually to the most promising performers. Outstanding artists, such as Christine Brewer, Renèe Fleming, Catherine Malfitano, James Morris, Matthew Polenzani, Sondra Radvanovsky, Neil Shicoff, and Dawn Upshaw, received George London Awards in the early stages of their careers.
The Foundation collaborates with the Morgan Library & Museum in New York in a yearly recital series in the Gilder Lehrman Hall. This series features international opera singers, many of whom were winners of a George London prize early in their careers, with recent George London Award recipients. Recitalists in the past several years have included Renèe Fleming, Ben Heppner, Thomas Hampson, James Morris, Renè Pape, Samuel Ramey, Frederica von Stade, Bryn Terfel, and Dawn Upshaw. These recitals are taped for delayed broadcast on WQXR, the New York Times' classical music station, and hosted by WQXR personality Nimet Habachy.
More information is at 2008-2009 Season.
The George London Foundation for Singers is a registered not-for-profit corporation supported by tax-deductible contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. It is dedicated to the support and encouragement of the next generation of great singers.
