The American Prize in Vocal Performance—Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award honors the memory of the greatest Wagnerian baritone of his age, Friedrich Schorr, who commanded the operatic stage between the world wars, and his wife, Virginia Schorr, who taught studio voice at the Manhattan School of Music and the Hartt School of Music for nearly fifty years. The Prize recognizes and rewards the best performances by classically trained vocalists in America, based on submitted recordings.
The American Prize in Vocal Performance—women in opera (professional division), 2022, The Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Awards
The American Prize Winner: Olga Perez Flora, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Opera roles include performances with Opera Company Middlebury/A Streetcar Named Desire (Eunice), Opera Columbus/Madama Butterfly (Suzuki), Arizona Opera/Die Zauberflöte (Third Lady), Opera in the Heights/Don Giovanni (Zerlina), and more.
Internationally known as a recitalist, Dr. Flora has performed several recitals with companies across the United States, Cuba, and Italy. She has most recently created a Cuban Song Recital named Canciones de mi Isla: Songs from my Island.

Dr. Beth Ratay awarded Discovery Grant from OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Women Composers program
Dr. Beth Ratay, a faculty member at The University of New Mexico, has been awarded a Discovery Grant from OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Women Composers program. This prestigious grant, totaling $100,000 across eight recipients, supports the development of new opera...
Marchiando and Stojanovska to present “Soundscapes of Her,” music for trumpet and piano on KHFM, 95.5 FM “10 at 10” Series with Brent Stevens
Marchiando and Stojanovska to present “Soundscapes of Her,” music for trumpet and piano on KHFM, 95.5 FM “10 at 10” Series with Brent Stevens UNM Associate Professor of Trumpet, Dr. John Marchiando, and pianist Dr. Natasha Stojanovska will perform and chat about music...
Dr. Hurtado is the recipient of the 2024 “Mexicanos Distinguidos Award”
Dr. Hurtado is the recipient of the 2024 “Mexicanos Distinguidos Award” Every year, the Mexican Government, through the Foreign Ministry of Mexico, selects a handful of nationals from all over the world to receive the Distinguished Mexicans Award, which is given to...