The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is set to honor mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves as its National Legacy Award recipient at the Spring Legacy Awards on June 4 at the Talbot Country Club in Easton, Maryland.

The National Legacy Award, introduced last season, recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting impact on the arts at a national level. The inaugural honoree was Deborah Rutter, former President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and currently Provost for the Arts at Duke University.

Graves, who recently retired from the operatic stage on Jan. 24, 2026 at the Metropolitan Opera, was widely celebrated for her portrayals of iconic roles such as Carmen and Dalila, as well as for her work in contemporary opera, including “The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson.” She recently directed “Treemonisha” at the Washington National Opera and also directed “Loving v. Virginia” at the Virginia Opera.

In 2021, she founded The Denyce Graves Foundation, an organization committed to supporting and mentoring vocal artists while preserving the legacy of historically significant yet underrecognized figures in classical music.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra’s Spring Legacy Awards Dinner is an annual event that celebrates individuals whose contributions have strengthened the arts locally and nationally, while also supporting the orchestra’s mission to bring professional orchestral performances and educational programming to communities across the Delmarva Peninsula.