Brittney B. Burgess and Brandon Bell are this year’s recipients of the J. Willard Hines Music Scholarship for 2021.

The accolade was named in honor of the Detroit Choir director-educator of the same name, with the aim of spotlighting classical vocal performers of color.

Burgess is a native of New York who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Literature at The Eastman School of Music. Meanwhile, Bell, a native of Suffolk, Virginia, is currently a Lesley Resident Artist with the Fort Worth Opera. Bell holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

The scholarships were established by a group of Willard J. Hines alumni who work as performers and music leaders. The scholarships are open to students of color nationwide at the high school, college, master’s, and professional levels.

The J. Willard Hines Scholarship has established three categories for voice and one for piano talent.