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"Le roi carotte", Opera de Lyon
Rediscovered Work of the Year 2016
Laurent Pelly: Director of the Year 2016
(Image: Stofleth)

The Opera Awards Foundation was founded in 2012 by Harry Hyman who recognised that there were many artistically talented individuals whose potential was not being nurtured.  Since 2012 we have provided support of around £50,000 per annum to individual artists and companies.

As we approach our 11th anniversary in 2023, we have relaunched the foundation’s work. Our aim is to invest in excellence and access. We will continue to help aspiring operatic artists and introduce a new programme called Sing! which will inspire our youngest audiences by inviting opera artists into schools.

For the Opera Artist Support Scheme, there are no restrictions on age or nationality, nor is support limited to singers: applications are encouraged from any artist working toward a career in opera, who needs financial support to achieve their career goals.

For schools interested in getting involved in the Sing! programme, please email info@operaawards.org

Past Opera Awards Foundation Bursary recipients have been engaged by The Royal Opera House, The Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Welsh National Opera, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Opera Holland Park, Santa Fe Opera and Hungarian State Opera. They are members of the world’s most prestigious Young Artist Programmes including the Opernhaus Zürich International Opera Studio, Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists, English National Opera Harewood Artists and Salzburg Festival Young Singers Project.

The Foundation invites applications annually and these are considered by the Trustees.

In 2020/21 the focus of the Opera Awards Foundation was the Artist Hardship Fund, set up to provide emergency grants to our artists facing financial crisis due to COVID-19.

Applications for a 2023 bursary are now closed.

Donate to the Opera Awards Foundation via JustGiving or explore below for other ways to support.

The Opera Awards Foundation is a registered charity no: 1151026

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