LA Opera has announced the 2026 recipients of the Eva and Marc Stern Artist Award.

This year tenor Duke Kim and soprano Kathleen O’Mara received the award.

The Stern Artist Award was established in 2021 by Eva and Marc Stern, two of the greatest champions and most dedicated supporters in the history of LA Opera. Each artist will receive $25,000.

In a statement, Marc Stern said, “One of the great joys Eva and I have found in our involvement with LA Opera is watching exceptional artists grow and flourish, both on this stage and beyond. This year, we are especially proud to celebrate two remarkable artists on the rise. Duke Kim has already made a powerful impression in two leading roles in Los Angeles, with another to come next season, and audiences have thrilled to his continued evolution. Kathleen O’Mara represents the very best of LA Opera’s young artist program—an artist of extraordinary promise now stepping onto the world stage. It brings us tremendous joy to see her exceptional gifts recognized more widely, and we’re also excited for her return next season in her first leading role with the company. Together, they exemplify the vibrant future of opera, and we are honored to celebrate their achievements and their enduring connection to the company we cherish.”

Kim, who made his LA Opera debut in 2024 in “Roméo et Juliette,” said “Growing up in Orange County, I attended many performances at LA Opera. Witnessing the extraordinary artists on that stage played a significant role in inspiring me to become a better artist. To now perform on that very stage feels deeply meaningful—a true full-circle moment. I am sincerely grateful for this award and for the steadfast support that Eva and Marc have shown to LA Opera and its artists. Their generosity continues to make a profound impact on LA Opera, as well as the arts and sciences across the nation. It is a great honor to receive an award that carries their name.”

O’Mara, who was a member of LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program from 2023 to 2025, added, “I am truly honored to receive the Marc and Eva Stern Artist Award. My time as a young artist at LA Opera was deeply rewarding and exceeded my already high expectations. From the beginning, I was fortunate to be surrounded by an exceptional community of talented and inspiring artists, and I found an unexpected sense of connection and support among the people who make up LA Opera; it truly feels like my second home. The opportunities I was given and the knowledge I gained during my time in the program have been invaluable, and I will carry those experiences with me throughout my career. I am especially grateful for this award, as it reflects the continued support I feel even beyond my time as a Young Artist, and I sincerely thank Marc and Eva Stern for their generosity.”

Kim has performed at the Semperoper Dresden, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Teatro de la Maestranza, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, and the Canadian Opera Company. O’Mara has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Seattle Opera, San Diego Opera, and Bayerische Staatsoper.