J'Nai Bridges

J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano; Beth Morrison, president and creative producer of Beth Morrison Projects; and Esperanza Spalding, vocalist, bassist, and composer, are among the 50 honorees selected to be part of the Kennedy Center’s Next 50 initiative, which recognizes arts leaders who are “moving us toward a more inspired, inclusive, and compassionate world.” The honorees will participate in Kennedy Center programs, forums, residencies, and other events.

Filmmaker Anthony Popolo received a Mid-South Emmy for Technical Achievement for his work on Nashville Opera’s One Vote Won, a new opera by Dave Ragland and Mary McCallum that premiered digitally in 2020.

At the 50th annual George London Foundation Awards Competition, the top prizes of $10,000 each went to baritone Blake Denson, tenor Eric Ferring, baritone Erik Grendahl, mezzo-soprano Megan Moore, and baritone Timothy Murray.

Navasard Hakobyan

Houston Grand Opera announced the winners of the 34th annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. Baritone Navasard Hakobyan won the first-place prize of $10,000; soprano Amanda Batista took the second-place prize of $5,000; and bass-baritone Jongwon Han received the third-place prize of $3,000.