The Richard Tucker Music Foundation annually bestows a variety of cash prizes to individual singers, U.S. born or naturalized citizens by age 18. Singers must be nominated for the awards; there is no application process. Auditions take place each spring in New York City and are free and open to the public.

Nominations for all the categories are solicited from a wide universe of professionals in the US and abroad. Those invited to audition in New York City each spring sing for a panel of opera professionals and leaders in the opera world. Auditions are open to the public and are attended annually by both opera lovers and artistic administrators from opera houses across the world.

Below is a description of the guidelines for each award.

The Grants program is made possible by generous support from the Agnes Varis Trust.

The Richard Tucker Award

The Richard Tucker Award is selected by conferral, rather than audition.  This prestigious award carries not only the name of Richard Tucker and a cash prize of $50,000, but also a stellar list of past recipients.  The operative guideline for the Richard Tucker Award is that it be awarded to an American singer poised on the edge of a major national and international career, and it is hoped that the award acts as a well-timed catalyst to elevate the artist’s career to even greater heights.

Richard Tucker Career Grants

Richard Tucker Career Grant winners are selected each year for unrestricted grants of $10,000 each.  A Career Grant candidate should have a fair amount of performing experience in professional companies and is generally 36 years of age or under.

Sara Tucker Study Grants

Sara Tucker Study Grant winners are selected each year for unrestricted grants of $5,000 each.  A Study Grant candidate should be making the transition from student to professional singer. A candidate should have recently completed a graduate degree program or work in a young artist or Apprentice program at a regional company and is generally under 30 years of age. Such singers have had various performing opportunities, but not in major roles.

2024 Richard Tucker Award

Clay Hilley, tenor 

Full List of Recipients

2024 Richard Tucker Career Grant

Anthony Léon, tenor
Luke Sutliff, baritone
Elena Villalón, soprano

Full List of Recipients

2024 Sara Tucker Study Grant

Trevor Haumschilt-Rocha, baritone
Kathleen O’Mara, soprano
Emily Sierra, mezzo-soprano

Full List of Recipients