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Two NEC Alumni Receive Award from LA Opera 

March 13, 2025

Tenor Anthony León ’21 MM, NEC Voice Department Chair Bradley Williams, and soprano Erica Petrocelli ’14, ’16 MM, ’18 AD

Left to right: Anthony León ’21 MM, NEC Voice Department Chair Bradley Williams, and Erica Petrocelli ’14, ’16 MM, ’18 AD

Tenor Anthony León ’21 MM and soprano Erica Petrocelli ’14, ’16 MM, ’18 AD have received the Eva and Marc Stern Artist Award from LA Opera, where the vocalists are currently singing the roles of Ferrando and Fiordiligi in a production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte. León and Petrocelli are alumni of LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program.

“The annual award serves as an expression of gratitude to gifted artists who have made an indelible mark on LA Opera’s artistic profile,” the organization said in a press release, which quoted Marc Stern, former and now honorary chair of LA Opera’s board of directors, as saying, “Anthony and Erica have made deep impressions on our audiences with their uncommon musicality, outstanding depth and sensitivity and remarkably beautiful voices. We are proud to honor these beloved members of the LA Opera family who have touched our hearts with their artistry and who now represent the company with distinction as they continue building successful careers.”

“This company has been my home, and I am so grateful to the Sterns and to everyone here for their constant belief in me and their support of my career,” Petrocelli said in the release. “Every single thing I’ve done here has been so special and it’s wonderful to come back home to do what I love.” 

“When I decided to become an opera singer, LA Opera was the beacon of inspiration that propelled me forward,” León said, adding, “I am deeply grateful to Eva and Marc Stern for their efforts to change the world through philanthropy. Their belief in artists and the power of opera pushes the art form forward and encourages artists to be their best.”

Read LA Opera’s press release

Left to right: NEC President Andrea Kalyn, Anthony León ’21 MM, and NEC Voice Department Chair Bradley Williams

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