Baritone Justin Austin is this year’s Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner.

As such, the baritone will sing a recital at The Kennedy Center on Dec. 12, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. The showcase will be presented by the Washington National Opera and will feature Austin alongside pianist Howard Watkins.

The program will feature music by Olaf Beinert, Hanns Eisler, Ricky Ian Gordon, Shawn Okpebholo, Robert Owens, Maurice Ravel, and Kurt Weill.

“I’m honored to have been chosen for this incredibly prestigious award in the name of one of my operatic heroes. Marian Anderson personally encouraged my mother when she was a young singer,” Austin said in an official press statement.  “So, in a way, not only her historic career, but Ms. Anderson’s kindness and big heart led to me being where I am today. I hope to be half the ambassador of peace and love through music that Marian Anderson was. Thank you to Washington National Opera for this great honor.”

Austin recently appeared in the Met Opera’s “Dead Man Walking” and will sing in “Romeo and Juliet” with the Washington National Opera. This season, he will also perform with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Lyric Fest.