Sullivan Foundation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Sullivan Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding, developing, and furthering the careers of promising opera singers within the United States. Founded in 1956 through the bequest of a prominent lawyer, William Matheus Sullivan, the foundation has awarded grants to close to 500 singers. Awards are given on the basis of an annual singing competition hosted by the foundation. Grants awarded provide singers with financial support over a period of five years. The first director of the foundation was Edward Johnson, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera.

Past recipients of the Sullivan Award include such noted singers as Christine Brewer, Jessye Norman, Jerry Hadley, Kathleen Battle, Michael Devlin, Renee Fleming, Leona Mitchell, Susan Graham, Patricia Racette and Elizabeth Futral.