Kennedy Center's Marian Anderson Award

photo of Marian Anderson

The Purpose of the Marian Anderson Award
In order to create a permanent tribute to the historic and artistic achievements of Marian Anderson, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and The Fairfield County Community Foundation (Connecticut) initiated a joint collaboration in September 2002 to present a $15,000 award every other year beginning in January 2003 to a mid-career male or female American vocalist. Future recipients will be selected in the fall of odd-numbered years, and will receive the award and perform at the Kennedy Center the following spring of even-numbered years .

In September 2002, Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser said, "The programs of the Kennedy Center, the nation's center for the performing arts, gain further distinction with the addition of this distinguished award in the name of Marian Anderson, whose life and career stands as an example to all young artists. One of the greatest of American singers, she followed her muse with steadfast courage, and by force of her personality, will, and talent, changed perceptions and opened the door to success for others."

Lawrence Brownlee

2006 Marian Anderson Award Recipient
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, home of the Marian Anderson Award, a career grant for American singers in mid-career, chose tenor Lawrence Brownlee of Youngstown, Ohio, to receive the 2006 award. Brownlee has performed widely in recitals internationally, and in solo performances with Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne Switzerland, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse France and the Baltimore Symphony.

A History of The Marian Anderson Award
In order to perpetuate Marian Anderson's name and her musical and humanitarian accomplishments, The Marian Anderson Award Fund was established at The Fairfield County Community Foundation in 1996 by the Marian Anderson Award Foundation under the leadership of June Goodman of Danbury, Connecticut, a neighbor and friend of Ms. Anderson.
The Award, first bestowed in 1989 by the Marian Anderson Award Foundation, is given to "an American singer of great promise who has already achieved some success in opera, in recital and in the orchestra/oratorio repertory." Prior award recipients have been Sylvia McNair (1990), Denyce Graves (1991), Philip Zawisza (1992), Nancy Maultsby (1993), Patricia Racette (1994), Michelle deYoung (1995), Nathan Gunn (1996), and Marguerite Krull (1997). The 2003 award to Eric Owens was the first to be given since 1997.

Guidelines of The Marian Anderson Award
The Kennedy Center has established a committee of music experts to identify and select the recipients of the Marian Anderson Award. Artists are nominated by opera companies, orchestral and choral organizations, agents, professional music critics and other organizations across the country. The cash award, to be provided once every two years, comes from the Marian Anderson Award Fund at The Fairfield County Community Foundation.

To Submit an Artist for the Marian Anderson Award
Submissions for the 2008 Marian Anderson Award must be received at the Kennedy Center by February 1, 2008. Artists will not be chosen by audition and candidates may not nominate themselves. Materials required are (1) a high quality audiotape or CD recording of the candidate, (2) a resume, 3) a headshot, and (4) a letter of recommendation. Send submissions ONLY via UPS or FedEx to: The Marian Anderson Award, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566. Please protect photographs by placing cardboard on both sides of the picture. For information and to leave a message, call ( 202) 416-8081.

Additional Resources for Marian Anderson

	Full Biography of Marian Anderson		Fairfield County Comm. Foundation