First-Year Anna Thompson Named 2025 Sullivan Award Winner

January 5, 2026

The Academy of Vocal Arts proudly announces that first-year Resident Artist and soprano Anna Thompson has been named a 2025 Sullivan Award winner by the Sullivan Foundation. This prestigious honor recognizes her as one of the nation’s most promising young opera singers.

Each year, the Sullivan Foundation awards $10,000 prizes to exceptional early-career vocalists following a highly competitive national audition process. Anna’s selection places her among an accomplished group of 2025 award recipients and underscores her remarkable artistry, technical accomplishment, and professional potential.

A native of Rochester, Michigan, Anna joined AVA for the 2025–26 season. She holds a Master of Music from Rice University and a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music. Prior to arriving at AVA, she earned recognition in several major competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, where she was a Houston District Winner, and the Gerda Lissner Foundation Art Song Competition, where she received the Special Judge’s Prize.

The Sullivan Award continues a legacy established in 1957 to support young American opera singers at pivotal stages in their careers. With more than a thousand artists recognized since its founding, the Foundation’s support has played a significant role in launching many distinguished operatic careers.

AVA congratulates Anna Thompson on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to her continued artistic growth and success in the seasons ahead.