2025 Scholarship Award Winners
Congrats to our scholarship winners!
Meet the outstanding 2025 American Opera Society of Chicago Scholarship award recipients below!
Finn Sagal, baritone
The American Opera Society of Chicago Ginger and James Meyer Centennial Award
Finn Sagal is an Ensemble Member of the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago. He holds a Master of Music degree from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has participated in the Merola Opera Program, Aspen Music Festival and School, and Curtis Summerfest. He has performed with the Pasadena Symphony, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and multiple Songbook Foundation Benefit concerts.
James Kang, viola
The American Opera Society of Chicago Ginger and James Meyer Centennial Award
James Kang is a student of Helen Callus at Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music, where he is working on his Doctor of Musical Arts in Viola Performance. He holds a Master of Music in Viola Performance from the University of Delaware, under the Graduate String Quartet Fellowship. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance at The Juilliard School, where he held the Kovner Fellowship.
Adia Evans, soprano
The American Opera Society of Chicago Lola Fletcher Award
Adia Evans is an Ensemble Member of the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance degree from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Maryland. She has been an Apprentice Artist with the Santa Fe Opera, a Young Artist with the Fort Worth Opera, a Young Artist in the Merola Opera Program, and a Resident Artist with Opera Columbus.
Noam Ginsparg, cello
The American Opera Society of Chicago Award in honor of Mary Jane Peterson
Noam Ginsparg is a student at Northwestern University Weinberg College and studies with Hans Jensen in the Bienen School of Music. While at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT, he earned a certificate of graduation from The Juilliard School PreCollege Division, where he received the Commencement Award for academic and musical excellence. His awards include those for String Performance and for Piano Composition.
The American Opera Society of Chicago Award in honor of Joyce Van Cura
Calista Smith, soprano
Calista Smith will complete her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance degree this spring at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, where she studies with Pamela Hinchman. She has been a Studio Artist with the Aspen Music Festival Aspen Opera Theater and a member of the Young Artist Program with Berlin Opera Academy and La Musica Lirica. She has also participated in the Mikael Eliasen Voice Program at Curtis Institute.
Alexandra Burch will complete her Master of Music degree this spring at DePaul University, where she studies with Chuck Chandler. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Besides performances with DePaul University, she has sung with the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company of Chicago and Musica Nelle Marche in Urbino, Italy.