The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra will honor internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves as its National Legacy Award recipient at the Spring Legacy Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 4 at the Talbot Country Club in Easton, Maryland.

The National Legacy Award, introduced last season, recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting impact on the arts at a national level. The inaugural honoree was Deborah Rutter, former President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and currently Provost for the Arts at Duke University. Ms. Graves will join this distinguished group of honorees whose work has shaped the cultural landscape through artistic excellence, leadership, and advocacy.

For more than four decades, Denyce Graves captivated audiences around the world, performing at many of the most prestigious opera houses and concert halls. She was widely celebrated for her portrayals of iconic roles such as Carmen and Dalila, as well as for her work in contemporary opera, including The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson. An artist of remarkable range and influence, she also appeared in national television broadcasts including Great Performances. Ms. Graves retired from the operatic stage on January 24, 2026 at the Metropolitan Opera, concluding a distinguished and impactful performing career.

In the 2025–2026 season, Ms. Graves returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Maria in Porgy and Bess and made her directorial debut with Washington National Opera in a new production of Treemonisha. Her recent work also included directing the world premiere of Loving v. Virginia and The Tongue and The Lash as part of the James Baldwin Centennial.

Beyond the stage, Ms. Graves has been a dedicated educator and advocate for the arts. She has served on the faculty of both The Juilliard School and the Peabody Conservatory and has been recognized with Emmy and GRAMMY Awards, as well as multiple honorary Doctorates of Musical Arts. Her contributions to American culture are further recognized through her designation as a Global Music Ambassador for the United States and through her presence in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery.

In 2021, she founded The Denyce Graves Foundation, an organization committed to supporting and mentoring vocal artists while preserving the legacy of historically significant yet underrecognized figures in classical music. Through this work, she continues to shape the future of the art form and expand access to opportunities for emerging artists.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra’s Spring Legacy Awards Dinner is an annual event that celebrates individuals whose contributions have strengthened the arts locally and nationally, while also supporting the orchestra’s mission to bring professional orchestral performances and educational programming to communities across the Delmarva Peninsula.

A limited number of 2026 Legacy Award Dinner tickets will go on sale soon.