Twelfth Hildegard Behrens Foundation Humanitarian Award 2022 - to help young artists reach their true artistic and humanitarian potential. The Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and The Global Leaders Program received the 2022 award. Grantee institutions identify exceptional young artists, with keen musical intelligence and deep humanity, for professional training and performance opportunities, in honor of the legendary German dramatic soprano, Hildegard Behrens.

New York, NY. It is with great pleasure that we announce the 12th annual Hildegard Behrens Prize, awarded to Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program tenor Jonah Hoskins, from the United States. Jonah is in his second year of the program, and has just won second prize at the 2021 Operalia Competition. He was presented with the Hildegard Behrens Prize at a ceremony in the Metropolitan Opera Grand Tier on October 29th, 2021, in anticipation of Ms. Behrens’ 85th birth anniversary. To date, the prize has been granted to sopranos Layla Claire, Emalie Savoy, Ying Fang, Michelle Bradley, Hyesang Park, Gabriella Reyes, Yunuet Laguna and Jessica Faselt; tenors Mario Chang and Kang Wang; and baritone Alexey Lavrov. The award commemorates one of the greatest Wagnerian sopranos of the 20th century, whom The New York Times proclaimed a “supersoprano”, Opera News declared “The Incomparable Hildegard” and “The greatest living Brünnhilde”, France’s Le Monde described as “Bouleversante” (Stunning), and Vienna’s Der Standard affirmed “Die grandioseste Brünnhilde der letzten Jahrzehnte” (The most magnificent Brünnhilde of the last decades). Her 1996 Salzburg Festival Elektra led Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung to quote the headline “Musikalisches Jahrhundertereignis” (once-in-a-century musical event), among the myriad accolades she received during her memorable life, summed up most simply yet eloquently as “Gipfelstürmerin” (conqueror of summits) by Germany’s Die Zeit. The Metropolitan Opera’s ‘Nightly Met Opera Streams’ of the legendary production of the Ring des Nibelungen, as well as Zeffirelli’s cherished production of Tosca with Placido Domingo, have recently introduced new generations of audiences to the enduring standards that represent Hildegard Behrens’ unique artistry.

The Foundation further continues its role as co-founder and principal sponsor of The Global Leaders Program, an innovative nine-month Executive Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship, Cultural Agency, Policy Leadership, Teaching Artistry and Organizational Management offered to a Global Cohort of 67 top musician innovators. Academically curated by nine world-class universities and think tanks including Harvard, Duke, Georgetown, McGill, New York University, and Bard College, the program connects a network of institutional fieldwork hosts spanning 40+ countries. Each year, the Foundation awards four of the most exceptional graduates, the distinguished Global Humanitarian Entrepreneur Prize, bestowed in Hildegard Behrens' memory.

Lindemann Young Artist Development Program

The Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, named after Mr. and Mrs. George Lindemann in recognition of their generous support, was founded in 1980 to help young artists transition to careers in opera. Since then, 181 artists have graduated from the program, with notable alumni including Stephanie Blythe, Charles Castronovo, Christine Goerke, Ryan Speedo Green, Erin Morley, Lisette Oropesa, Sondra Radvanovsky, and Russell Thomas. The program is considered one of the most prestigious of its kind because of the quality and scope of resources it makes available to the young singers, coaches, and pianists.

Melissa Wegner, Executive Director at the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, said “On behalf of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, I am delighted that the Hildegard Behrens Foundation has recognized the prodigious talent of tenor Jonah Hoskins with this coveted award. We are honored by the continued association with this esteemed organization and to honor the memory of one of the Met’s most revered dramatic sopranos, Hildegard Behrens."

Mr. Hoskins said “Thinking I was attending a photoshoot, I was shocked and thrilled when Mr. Gaston Ormazabal shook my hand and told me I had received the Behrens Foundation prize. I am so grateful to have been recognized and for their generous contribution. People and organizations who support young singers like the Behrens Foundation are so needed and appreciated, and I extend my heartfelt thanks for this prestigious honor.“

Metropolitan Opera | Lindemann Young Artist Development Program (metopera.org)

The Global Leaders Program

The Global Leaders Program