SFCM voice excellence is being recognized by the opera world at large. 

2013 Voice alum Nikola Printz was named a winner of the 2025 Richard Tucker Career Grant. This prize awards $10,000 unrestricted grants to singers, selected through a vocal competition, who have begun professional careers and who have already performed roles with opera companies. Printz was one of three grant winners from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation. 

Nikola Printz. Photo credit Destiny Grace.

“It feels pretty cool to be a queer and tattooed trans singer recognized by a big institution in the opera world,” Printz, who uses they/them pronouns, said. “It’s how I felt about getting into Merola and Adler. When I was younger I never saw myself in those programs.” Printz hopes their recognition inspires other artists in an ever-evolving opera world to “be authentic and make space for themselves and other divergent people in the opera world, because despite what you see, it needs ‘weirdos,’ desperately!” 

Founded in 1975, The Richard Tucker Music Foundation is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to perpetuating the artistic legacy of the great American tenor through the support and advancement of the careers of talented American opera singers. It annually gives out a variety of prizes. Singers must be nominated for the awards and there is no application process. Auditions take place each spring in New York City and are free and open to the public. 

Other awards given by the Richard Tucker Foundation this year include grants for Meridian Prall and Ricardo José Rivera. The Richard Tucker Award, also called the “Heisman Trophy of Opera” was given to Nicholas Brownlee. These awards and grants reflect the foundation’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of opera singers.

SFCM's Voice program allows students to work closely with all-star faculty to hone technique and expand artistry through private voice lessons, weekly one-on-one coachings, studio classes, and professional development courses to help students grow into business savvy, well-rounded artists.

Praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for their “series of dynamic, musically imaginative performances,” Printz has been making a name for themselves through their authentic and original showcases. Their advice for other young musicians is to stay true to what they believe in, and what inspires them, “My advice is to say yes to weird stuff, be yourself, make art you feel called to, and don’t be afraid to take a stand for things you care about,” Printz added.

Learn more about studying Voice at SFCM.