The NOA Lifetime Achievement Award
The NOA recognizes the achievements of those who have dedicated their lives to opera.
Pictured: Samuel Ramey, 2015 recipient
Recipients are selected by the Board of Directors on the basis of the following criteria:
- Substantial international and national operatic career
- Previous awards and/or recognition at the national or international level
- Significant number of years in the profession
- Attractive “name recognition” for the conference
- Demonstrated commitment or interest in fostering operatic/musical education
Honorees
Recipients of the NOA Lifetime Achievement Award are:
| 1998 | Kirke Mechem Robert Ward Jack Beeson Carlisle Floyd Ruby Mercer Rudolph Fellner |
Thea Musgrave Seymour Barab Ruth Martin Mary Elaine Wallace Robert Gay |
| 1999 | Sherrill Milnes | |
| 2001 | Regina Resnick | Jon Vickers |
| 2002 | Anna Moffo | Robert Merrill |
| 2003 | Gilda Cruz-Romo | |
| 2004 | Dominick Argento | Colin Graham |
| 2005 | Phyllis Curtin Joseph Volpe |
Beverly Sills |
| 2006 | David DiChiera | |
| 2007 | Ryan Edwards | Matthew Epstein |
| 2009 | Marilyn Horne | Evelyn Lear |
| 2011 | Jonathan Pell | |
| 2012 | Speight Jenkins | |
| 2013 | Johanna Meier | |
| 2014 | Samuel Ramey | |
| 2015 | George Shirley | |
| 2016 | Robert Larsen | Henry Price |
| 2017 | John Moriarty | Virginia Zeani |
| 2019 | David Bamberger | |
| 2020 | Dorothy Danner | |
| 2021 | Joan Dornemann | |
| 2022 | John DeMain | |
| 2023 | Mark Campbell |
