THE ELIZABETH GREENFIELD AWARD

JTVA recognizes that Black singers have historically faced inordinate barriers to establishing classically-based singing careers. These barriers have deprived the world of great voices for generations. Elizabeth Greenfield (1809-1876) was born into slavery in Mississippi. Emancipated in the early 1820s, she was a self-taught soprano who became known as “The Black Swan”, the first African-American singer to gain recognition in Europe and the United States. The Elizabeth Greenfield Award was conceived to honor a trailblazing Black singer and recognize outstanding present-day Black singers by providing meaningful financial assistance to further their careers. JTVA encourages singers in the early stages of a professional operatic and/or concert career who identify as Black to apply. There are no age or repertoire requirements, although applicants are encouraged to highlight performances of music by Black composers. Applications are expected to open this July for the 2023 Elizabeth Greenfield Award. The winner will be announced on November 5.