Voices of Summer Gala
Friday, May 29th, 2026
Gala Awards
The Voice Foundation announce the Award recipients for our 2026 Voices of Summer Gala. The evening will begin with a jazz reception and cocktails at 6:30pm, followed by a concert, awards, dinner and dancing. We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you.
2026 Gala Awardees
Rolando Villazón
Rolando Villazón is one of the most celebrated tenors of his generation, renowned for his electrifying performances on the world’s leading opera stages including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, and Vienna State Opera. Known for his expressive voice, charismatic stage presence, and deeply human interpretations of the great tenor repertoire, Villazón has earned international acclaim and numerous honors throughout his career. Beyond the stage, he is also an accomplished author, broadcaster, and cultural leader, serving as Artistic Director of Salzburg Mozart Week and championing the enduring power of opera for audiences around the world.
Shoba Narayan
Shoba Narayan is an award-winning Broadway and screen actress, vocalist, dancer, and arts educator known for her dynamic versatility as both a performer and mentor. Her Broadway roles include Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, Nessarose in Wicked, and Natasha in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, where she made history as the first South Asian woman in 14 years to star in a Broadway musical since Bombay Dreams. Playbill hailed the milestone—her leading performance opposite Josh Groban in the 12-time Tony–nominated production—as both a “personal milestone” and “a key moment on Broadway.” She also appears in the hit Prime Video animated series Hazbin Hotel. Beyond the stage, Narayan is deeply committed to arts education and outreach, founding initiatives such as Eliza’s Legacy and her New York arts organization Kavya Kala NYC, where she mentors artists while celebrating classical Indian traditions and the transformative power of the human voice.
Frank Miller
Frank Miller is one of the most influential and visionary creators in modern graphic storytelling, renowned for his gritty noir aesthetic and cinematic narrative style that reshaped the comic and entertainment industries. His groundbreaking works—including The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, 300, Ronin, and Batman: Year One—redefined the superhero genre and inspired major film adaptations seen by audiences worldwide. During his celebrated run on Daredevil, Miller co-created the iconic character Elektra, and his bold storytelling helped usher in a new era of darker, more sophisticated graphic literature. A multiple Eisner and Harvey Award winner and inductee of the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame, Miller’s work continues to influence generations of artists, writers, and filmmakers across media.
Silenn Thomas
Born in Paris, Silenn Thomas began her career in theater production working with renowned artists such as Vittorio Gassman and Pina Bausch before contributing to Mike Figgis’s Academy Award–winning film Leaving Las Vegas and later graduating from the UCLA film directing program. Since then she has collaborated with leading figures in film and television including Luc Besson, George Romero, Zack Snyder, Mark Canton, Kathleen Kennedy, and Robert Rodriguez. Thomas has produced and executive-produced a number of acclaimed projects, including Arcadia, which won the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival, and served as associate producer on films such as 300 and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, as well as co-executive producer on the Netflix series Cursed. She currently serves as COO of Frank Miller Productions and CEO of Frank Miller Ink.
2025 Gala Awardees
2024 Gala Awardees
2023 Gala Awardees
Philadelphia Westin Hotel
Group Prices until May 1
2022 VERA Award Honorees
Representing the worlds of speech and song: Pop idol Jon Bon Jovi, Metropolitan Opera Star Vladimir Chernov and TV Globo Brazil’s newscaster William Bonner
Gala Pricing
- $220 Gala for Symposium Attendees
- $275 Gala for General Public
- $1,500 Award Recipient Sponsorship of Award Recipient which includes:
One black and white full-page sponsorship credit in the Gala Program Book - $2,000 Award Recipient Sponsorship with 2 tickets Sponsorship of Award Recipient which includes: Two Gala tickets, One black and white full-page sponsorship credit in the Gala Program Book
- $3,500 Silver Supporter which includes:
A Premium Table of 10 at the Gala
One black and white full-page advertisement in the Gala Program Book,
Acknowledgement in The Voice Foundation’s marketing materials and website at a Corporate Sponsorship/Underwriters Silver Level - $5,000 Gold Benefactor which includes:
A Premium Table of 10 at the Gala with preferred seating
Back cover or inside cover four-color advertisement in the Gala Program Book,
Acknowledgement in The Voice Foundation’s marketing materials and website at a Corporate Sponsorship/Underwriters Gold Level
| 2018 Gala & Press 2017 Gala & Press 2016 Gala & Press 2015 Gala & Press 2014 Gala & Press 2013 Gala & Press 2012 Gala & Press Gala Through Years Past Gala Performances Gala Recording Archive |
2019 VERA Award Honorees
Lucine Amara, Julianne Baird, Mignon Dunn, Jeffrey R. Smith with the Philadelphia Boys Choir 50 Years!
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2019 Gala Concert Clip: Philadelphia Boys Choir
Gala Awards – Who , Why, What For
- V.E.R.A. Award: Voice Education Research Awareness
- Tony Randall Award: in honor of our beloved President Emeritus, Tony Randall
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler Award for vocal excellence.
- Wilbur James Gould Award: presented upon Board approval to honor outstanding supporters of The Voice Foundation activities.