(Credit: Taylor Ballantyne)

San Francisco Opera and Lumahai Productions received the “2022 Webby People’s Voice Award” for best music “Video Series & Channel” in recognition of its video series “In Song.” This award is given by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

This award is what the New York Times describes as “the Internet’s highest honor.” The competitive category included five nominees including NPR, Pitchfork, and Soundcloud.

“In Song” featured opera stars soprano Amina Edris, mezzo-sopranos Jamie Barton and j’Nai Bridges, tenors Arturo Chacón-Cruz and Pene Pati with guest banjo player Béla Fleck (with Barton). Each episode explored a cultural tradition that related to the artist’s personal and musical journey.

In an official statement, San Francisco Opera’s General Director Matthew Shilvock said, “I am ecstatic that San Francisco Opera’s In Song series was recognized by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and voted a Webby’s People’s Voice winner! We wanted this series to connect audiences to the intimate humanity of opera, and I am so proud of what has come to life on screen…”

The series will continue this summer and feature Chinese soprano Meigui Zhang. All episodes are available on San Francisco Opera’s Youtube Channel and Facebook.