Whether you are a student, a blossoming professional, a professional working steadily, a professional in dire circumstance, or someone producing a work, the path to a successful singing career can be littered with financial obstacles, from pricy study programs to the high costs of career development and travel expenses. The days of benefactors have long passed, and unless you have a rich relative, the business of singing can be tough, leaving many strapped for the cash they need to advance their studies and careers. Fortunately for today’s singers, there are a variety of grant opportunities to help vocalists of all levels alleviate some of these expenses, thereby making it easier for them to continue down their road of development, even during times of dire need. Following is a sampling of some of the grant opportunities available for singers.
Career Development, Study Grants, and Awards
Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
What it is: The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions prides itself
on discovering young talent, providing an opportunity for singers to be heard by a Met representative, and assisting singers in their development. Auditions are held annually in 14 regions of the U.S. and Canada. Winners of the district auditions advance to the regional finals, where they compete to participate in the national semifinals. Ten semifinalists are selected as national finalists and compete in the Grand Finals Concert. The jury awards five Grand Winner awards of $15,000. The remaining National Finalists receive $5,000. National semifinalists that did not advance to the national finals receive $1,500 toward their studies.
How to apply: District and regional auditions require five arias in contrasting languages and styles. At national auditions, singers offer four arias.
On the Web: www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/auditions/national
Mail: Lincoln Center, New York, NY 10023
E-mail: ncouncil@metopera.org
Phone: 212-870-4515
National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities
What it is:The National Endowment for the Arts is an organization advised by the National Council on the Arts, providing funding and grants to a wide array of artistic outlets. In opera, it supports companies and organizations that produce staged and concert works. Support for opera artists is also considered, as well as education and outreach programs.
How to apply: The website lists and links to the grant opportunities available in
opera for the year.
On the Web: www.nea.gov/grants/apply/Opera.html
Mail: 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20506
E-mail: webmgr@arts.gov
Phone:202-682-5400
The Sullivan Foundation
What it is: The Sullivan Foundation’s objective is to seek out talented, young singers and help them develop professional careers by providing financial support.
How to apply: Applicants must be in the early stages of their careers, completed academic training, and sung at least one engagement with an established opera company, orchestra, or other organization using orchestral accompaniment. An application is available on the foundation’s website to submit with a résumé, headshot, recommendation, and copy of a contract or letter of intent for a future professional operatic or orchestral engagement.
On the Web: www.sullivanfoundation.org
Mail: P.O. Box 189, Kent, CT 06757
E-mail: info@sullivanfoundation.org
Phone: 860-927-1320
Opera Singers Initiative
What it is: Opera Singers Initiative offers a 12-month training program, teaching entrepreneurship in opera. The program selects 10 singers from auditions. Those 10 are offered monthly mentoring, a full season of performance opportunities, career development, and funding. Feedback is provided to all who audition. In addition, the program gives over $10,000 in awards to singers each year. Winners are selected through a nomination process by the Board of Directors, Advisory Committee, and general public, and announced at the annual Fall Gala.
How to apply: Applications are submitted online, through Blazetrak to receive video feedback. Singers prepare three contrasting arias. Once selected, a donation of $195 is required to begin the program.
On the Web: www.operasingersinitiative.org, www.blazetrak.com/osi
Mail: 31 West 27th St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001
E-mail: Fabienne Alexis, event coordinator: fabienne@operasingersinitiative.org
Phone: 212-542-8758
Young Singers Foundation
What it is: The Young Singers Foundation offers financial grants to individuals, groups, and organizations that sponsor vocal music activities for young singers.
How to apply: An application can be downloaded from the foundation’s website as well as requested by phone or mail.
On the Web: www.youngsingersfoundation.org
Mail:P.O. Box 470168, Tulsa, OK 74147-0168
E-mail: keesha@sweetadelineintl.org
Phone: 800-992-7464 or 918-662-1444
Richard Tucker Music Foundation
What it is: The Richard Tucker Music Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to continuing the legacy of tenor Richard Tucker through the support and advancement of the careers of opera singers. It offers masterclasses and concerts, which provide performance opportunities to award winners and enrich the culture of communities. The foundation offers the following awards.
• Sara Tucker Study Grant: Awards $5,000 to singers younger than 27 who are graduates from a university or music conservatory and are making the transition from student to professional singer through a young artist or apprentice program at a regional company.
•Richard Tucker Career Grant: Awards $10,000 to singers 36 or younger who have begun professional careers and who have already performed roles with opera companies nationally or internationally.
• Richard Tucker Award: Awards a $30,000 cash prize to a singer who has reached a high level of artistic accomplishment and who is on the brink of a major international career. The award is selected by committee.
How to apply: Nominations are solicited from opera professionals. Those invited to audition prepare five arias.
On the Web: www.richardtucker.org
Mail: 1790 Broadway, Ste. 715, New York, NY 11019-1412
Phone: 212-757-2218
The Birgit Nilsson Prize
What it is: Toward the end of her career, dramatic soprano Birgit Nilsson established a foundation for a $1 million dollar prize for outstanding achievements by a singer in opera, concert, or oratorio; a conductor in opera or concert; or an outstanding production by an opera company.
How to apply: Recipients are selected by the foundation board, based on the recommendation of an international jury.
On the Web: www.birgitnilssonprize.org
The Rosa Ponselle Charitable Foundation
What it is: The Rosa Ponselle Charitable Foundation hosted a competition discovering talented singers and sponsoring and nurturing them through study programs and concert appearances. It also offered study grants, living stipends, and cash prizes. Citing a high percentage of poorly trained singers resulting in a lack of artistic accomplishment, the foundation discontinued, referring to well-trained singers as “an endangered species.” Individual study grants continue for gifted, young, classical singers who study with competent private voice teachers.
How to apply: Young artists between ages 16 and 21, who can sight read and play either piano or violin are encouraged to apply for live auditions.
On the Web: www.rosaponselle.com
Mail: “Windsor,” Stevenson, MD 21153-9999
E-mail: info@rosaponselle.com
Phone: 410-486-4616
Society of Singers Vocal Arts Scholarship Program
What it is: The Vocal Arts Scholarship Program awards masters students with grants to help meet their education expense. Grants of $1,500 toward tuition are awarded to students who demonstrate talent, academic achievement, and financial need.
How to apply: Applicants must be a masters student enrolled for at least eight credit hours and demonstrating financial need, academic achievement, and talent. Applicants submit a scholarship application; undergraduate and first-year graduate college transcript, including GPA; two recommendation forms from one adviser and one performing arts recommendation from the dean or music department
professor; bio and headshot; music sample; FAFSA; tax returns; bank statements; and documents of other financial support.
On the Web: www.singers.org/programs.html
Mail: 15456 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 304, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
E-mail: help@singers.org
Phone: 818-995-7100 x104
The Opera Foundation, Inc.
What it is: The Opera Foundation was originally launched in 1985 as the American Berlin Opera Foundation. It supports young opera singers abroad through scholarships and study grants. The first program was established with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. A second program was established with Teatro Regio di Torino.
How to apply: The competition is open to American citizens and permanent residents between the ages of 18 and 30 who are beginning professional singing careers. Selected candidates are invited to participate in New York auditions. The application can be downloaded or requested through the foundation’s website or by mail.
On the Web: www.operafoundation.org
Mail: c/o Mannheim LLC, Attn:Scholarship Competition, 712 Fifth Ave., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019
E-mail: ABOF@operafoundation.org or gala@operafoundation.org
Phone: 212-664-8843
The Opera Buffs Inc.
What it is: The Opera Buffs Inc. provides grants and performance opportunities to emerging vocalists in Southern California.
How to apply: Grants are awarded based on financial need and the purposes for which the funds are needed.
On the Web: www.operabuffs.org/join.php
Mail:425 South Plymouth Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90020-4706
OPERA America
What it is: OPERA America is an organization that provides funding and outreach for the continued development and excellence of operatic work. It offers several grants for individuals or organizations producing operas, including the Opera Fund, Repertoire Development, the Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Showcase of OPERA America, MetLife Foundation Music! Words! Opera! Teacher Training Program, New Works Exploration Grants, and Forum Travel Stipends.
How to apply: Application guidelines and instructions for grant programs are available at the OPERA America website.
On the Web: www.operaamerica.org/content/learninglab/artistic/grants.aspx#OF
Mail: 330 Seventh Ave., 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001
E-mail: info@operaamerica.org
Phone: 212-796-8620
Emergency Assistance Grants Change, Inc.
What it is: Change, Inc. provides one-time emergency grants up to $1,000 to artists of any discipline.
How to apply: Applicants must be professional singers who can demonstrate the financial need. A letter describing the financial emergency, copies of outstanding bills, medical fee estimates, and current financial statements along with a career résumé, reviews,
performance announcements, and two letters of reference are required.
On the Web: www.artisttrust.org/node/346
Mail: P.O. Box 54, Captiva, FL 33924
Phone: 212-473-3742
Musicares Foundation
What it is: MusiCares provides assistance for performers in times of need, including financial, medical, and personal emergencies.
How to apply: Each region has a toll-free help line.
West: 800-687-4227
Central: 877-626-2748
East: 877-303-6962
South: 877-626-2748
On the Web: www.grammy.com/MusiCares
E-mail: MusiCares@grammy.com
Society of Singers Financial Aid
What it is: The Society of Singers Financial Aid helps singers meet financial needs from crises and other circumstances. Individuals whose primary income is as a professional singer for five years or more might qualify for services. Requests must be of an emergency nature and made by singers who have dire financial needs due to personal, family, or medical reasons. Charitable grants can be provided for food, shelter, utilities, transportation, and medical/dental expenses. Grants are paid directly to creditors.
How to apply: Applications must be submitted with five years’ worth of career documentation, income verification, bank statements, tax returns, and copies of bills for which aid is being requested.
On the Web: www.singers.org/programs.html
Mail: 15456 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 304, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
E-mail: sos@singers.org, help@singers.org
Phone: 818-995-7100 x104
Musicians Foundation, Inc.
What it is: The Musicians Foundation provides emergency financial assistance toward living, medical, and allied expenses.
How to apply: Requests are handled via application, available on the foundation’s website, by mail, e-mail, phone, or fax.
On the Web: www.musiciansfoundation.org
Mail: 875 Sixth Ave., Ste. 2303, New York, NY 10001
E-mail: info@musiciansfoundation.org
Phone: 212-239-9137
