Martorella Scholarship in Classical Voice
The Martorella Scholarship is in remembrance of my opera loving grandfather. As a tiny child he had me sit on his lap as he listened to the Metropolitan Opera radio program on Saturday afternoons. Who knew that I would start to sing at age nine, become a soloist in church, have leads in musical theatre and operas. My Papa was very proud of me! Now, I am pleased to be able to honor the memory of Bernardo Salvatore “Benny” Martorella by helping young talented opera singers in his name! — JUDY MARTORELLI, National Chair
2026Martorella Scholarship in Classical VoiceInformation & Application
The National Society of Arts and Letters invite artists to apply for our 2026 Martorella Scholarship in Classical Voice. $10,000 in scholarships will be awarded. Applications are due to chapters by February 15, 2026. Please see the materials below for more information on this opportunity and check back for 2027 information.
2026 Martorella Scholarship in Classical Voice Application & Details
2026 Winner
Magdalena Kuzma
Polish-American soprano Magdalena Kuźma is rapidly gaining recognition for her vibrant voice and compelling stage presence. Critics have lauded her "star quality" and "shining, free, and lustrous" voice. This season she made her European debut in the world famous Barrie Kosky production of Die Zauberflöte at the Polish National Theater singing Pamina and looks forward to her debut at Wolf Trap Opera as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin.
She recently returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Papagena in both The Magic Flute and Die Zauberflöte productions and made her role debut as Bubikopf in Der Kaiser von Atlantis with the New World Symphony. An alumna of the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, Kuźma made her mainstage debut at the Met in the 2023-2024 season as Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore and throughout numerous seasons there has also sung Sister Catherine in the premiere of Dead Man Walking, Yvette in La Rondine, and Papagena in The Magic Flute.
Kuźma's operatic roles include Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Juliette in Roméo et Juliette,Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Frasquita in Carmen, and Adina in L’elisir d’amore. She is also an active recitalist, having performed at Wigmore Hall and other prestigious venues. On the concert stage, she was the soprano soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Richmond Symphony and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Santa Rosa Symphony. Kuźma has won numerous competitions, including the George London Foundation, Jensen Foundation, and Gerda Lissner competitions. She holds degrees from The Juilliard School, Oberlin College, and Yale University, where she was valedictorian.
2025 Winner
Sarah Rosales
Salvadoran-American coloratura soprano Sarah Rosales is originally from CedarRapids, Iowa. In the summer of 2024, she was a member of the Frank R. Brownell, III Apprentice Artist Program at Des Moines Metro Opera where she was a part of two productions, The Barber of Seville, and the world premiere of Damien Geter’s American Apollo. This summer she will make a role debut with the Glimmerglass Festival in the world premiere of Derek Bermel’s The House on Mango Street, andwill also appear in the ensembles of the Rake’s Progress, and Sunday in the Park with George. Starting fall of 2025 she will be pursuing her master’s degree at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Gwen Coleman. Sarah previously completed her undergraduate degree at Drake University in Des Moines,Iowa, under the tutelage of Leanne Freeman-Miller.