Lincoln Center Awards for Emerging Artists

Lincoln Center Awards for Emerging Artists are $7,500 prizes awarded annually to approximately ten rising artists. They are nominated by the artistic leadership of Lincoln Center's eleven resident organizations, recognizing diverse and exceptional talent across music, dance, theater, and film.

How Lincoln Center Awards Work

The awards were established to continue the legacy of the Martin E. Segal Awards, which were created in 1986 by the Board of Directors of Lincoln Center. The Segal Awards annually recognized two artists early in their careers. The Emerging Artists Awards expanded this concept to recognize approximately ten artists each year. For the 2025-2026 season, Lincoln Center named Jeanine Tesori as its Visionary Artist honoree, a separate recognition that highlights one extraordinary artist whose impact embodies the transformative power of the arts across disciplines.

Each recipient is nominated by the artistic leadership of one of Lincoln Center's eleven resident organizations:

1. The Juilliard School
2. School of American Ballet
3. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
4. New York Philharmonic
5. Lincoln Center Theater
6. Jazz at Lincoln Center
7. The Metropolitan Opera
8. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
9. New York City Ballet
10. Film Society of Lincoln Center
11. The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

Each awardee receives $7,500 to be used for career advancement. Several recipients are also acknowledged with named awards:

• The Martin E. Segal Award (given to two recipients of exceptional talent)
• The Hunt Family Award (presented to the Emerging Artist nominated by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts)
• The Herbert Family Dance Award (presented to the nominee from the School of American Ballet)

Awardees are celebrated at a gala event, typically held at Alice Tully Hall or the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse. Many of the Emerging Artists perform at the ceremony.

Past music recipients include violinists Stella Chen and Tessa Lark (2020), clarinetist Sebastian Manz (2020), trumpet player Riley Mulherkar (2020), composer Ellen Reid (2020), bassist Endea Owens (2019), soprano Gabriella Reyes (2019), violinist Angelo Xiang Yu (2019), saxophonist Julian Lee (2017), and violinist Paul Huang (2017).

Real-World Example

A young jazz bassist nominated by Jazz at Lincoln Center would receive $7,500. They could use the funds to complete a recording project. Violinist Tessa Lark used her 2020 award funds to complete "Stradgrass," a recording project exploring the influence of folk music through Classical and Americana traditions, including collaborations with artists like Jon Batiste and Edgar Meyer. The award brought the project to completion and gave her national recognition from Lincoln Center.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are an early-career artist affiliated with one of Lincoln Center's resident organizations, this award provides both money and visibility. The $7,500 can fund a recording, a recital, instrument purchase, or career development activities. The recognition from Lincoln Center carries significant weight in the performing arts world.

You cannot apply directly. The awards are nomination-based. Your path to consideration is to build a relationship with one of the eleven resident organizations. This means auditioning for Juilliard, performing with the Chamber Music Society's Bowers Program, participating in Jazz at Lincoln Center programs, or singing at the Metropolitan Opera. Excellence within these organizations puts you on the radar of artistic leadership.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

The awards are not open to public application. You must be nominated by the artistic leadership of a Lincoln Center resident organization. If you are not affiliated with one of these organizations, you cannot be considered. The award is $7,500, which is modest compared to some competition prizes. Only about ten artists are selected each year across all disciplines (music, dance, theater, film), meaning only a few musicians receive the award annually. The awards are not renewable. The ceremony and gala take place in New York City, which may require travel. The award focuses on early-career artists. Established professionals are not eligible.

Related Opportunities

• Music Scholarships Directory
• Avery Fisher Career Grant for instrumentalists early in their careers
• Concert Artists Guild for emerging performers
• National YoungArts Foundation for young artists
• How to Build a Career as a Classical Composer in the Digital Age for career strategy
• Session Musician Guide: Building a Career for performance career paths
• Visit Lincoln Center for more information