Leona Cheung ’18 MM, ’20 GD and Cara Bender ’20 MM Awarded Graham Johnson Art Song XXI Prize

Alumni Leona Cheung ’18 MM, ’20 GD and Cara Bender ’20 MM have been selected as recipients of the Graham Johnson Art Song XXI Prize at the 2024 SongFest competition. The duo began collaborating during their time at NEC and first gained recognition for their performances at the Leeds Lieder Festival in the United Kingdom in 2019.

Hand-selected by Graham Johnson ’13 hon. DM himself, the award is one of the most coveted honors in the art song community. It includes a generous scholarship to attend SongFest, a monetary prize, and an intensive mentorship opportunity with Johnson, a leading pianist and scholar of art song. Leona and Cara delivered an exceptional recital on June 7 at Pomona College in California. Curated and narrated by Mr. Johnson, the performance focused on art song repertoire from Western Europe, showcasing the profound artistry of both Leona and Cara.

Graham will return to NEC later this month for a residency, marking another exciting chapter in his enduring relationship with the institution.

Born in Hong Kong, Leona has dedicated her career to vocal-piano repertoire. Her commitment has led her to perform at prestigious international festivals including the Oxford International Song Festival, Toronto Summer Music, and SongFest. Based in Boston, Leona works as a collaborative pianist with prominent organizations such as the Handel and Haydn Society, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and Emmanuel Music. She also shares her expertise through masterclasses, including a recent collaborative piano masterclass on German Lieder and French mélodie at The Education University of Hong Kong.

Originally from New York, Cara has made her mark in the world of opera. In 2023, she debuted with The Florentine Opera Company as a Summer Studio Artist, performing key roles such as Contessa Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. She was also an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera in 2021, where she performed in The Queen of Spades and other notable works. Among her favorite roles are Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, The Mother and Witch in Hansel and Gretel, and Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw.

Congratulations, Leona and Cara!