heard or performed this music as a child or student in their home country. Perhaps they first sang these songs with their families or at school concerts discovering music and their own joy of singing. The words are in their language and reflect their sense of self. Nothing here was dutiful or by rote and each singer projected a very distinctive and highly developed individuality of sound, interpretation and communication. They connected with the music and through the music connected with us – and we connected to them and to cultures from around the world through a shared love of music.

Friday night in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the audience was treated to a performance by this year’s winners of the 2019 Joy in Singing International Art Songcompetition. This marks the 56th award debut recital and is the second year that the competition took place in Weill Hall.

The mission of The Joy in Singing, Art Song Institute is to nurture the love for art song, and to explore the variety in classical songs through education and performance.This mission is implemented by developing and refining exceptional vocal talent. It also offers workshops and training in all facets of song performance.

Thanks to the generous support of patrons and other music lovers, the foundation is able to offers multiple prizes each year and one grand prize. This year’s competition’s grand prize was awarded to baritone Gregory Feldmann and pianist Nathaniel LaNasa.

New York based Gregory Feldmann is a rising young singer, both in opera and art song recitals.Just a