Female singers in the running for the top award include Britain's Sarah Connolly, Joyce DiDonato, Evelyn Herlitzius, Catherine Naglestad, Nina Stemme, and Beatrice Uria-Monzon.

BBC: Opera magazine to hold inaugural awards in London

Tucker went on to build a stellar international career, as have past recipients of the award including soprano Renee Fleming, mezzo Joyce DiDonato and tenor Lawrence Brownlee.

WSJ: 'Heisman Trophy of opera' goes to Isabel Leonard

British violinist Nicola Benedetti, who will perform at the ceremony on 2 October, is nominated for female artist against trumpeter and two-time winner Alison Balsom and American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.

BBC: Andrea Bocelli to receive Classic Brit honour

Like the Tulsa Opera, the Lyric Opera has a history of supporting rising talent, none more significant than the mezzo Joyce DiDonato, who grew up in the Kansas City suburbs, on the Kansas side.

NEWYORKER: Opera on the Plains