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GEORGE AND NORA LONDON FOUNDATION FOR SINGERS INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133576839 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A68Z · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · georgeandnoralondon.org
revenue
$292K
expenses
$352K
net assets
$1.5M
employees
1
program ratio
74%
mission · from form 990

PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO PROMISING YOUNR SINGERS TO HELP THEM FURTHER THEIR CAREERS IN OPERA AND THE CONCERT STAGE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The George and Nora London Foundation for Singers supports promising young opera singers in the United States and Canada through an annual competition that awards cash prizes and career development opportunities. It also presents a recital series for award winners and provides scholarships to pre-college students at The Juilliard School. Founded in honor of opera star George London, the foundation has helped launch the careers of numerous internationally renowned singers since 1971.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $79K
    TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE YOUNG SIGNERS' PERFORMING STAGE EXPERIENCE.
  2. #2 $27K
    TO SUPPORT PRE-COLLEGE SCHOOLS' STUDENTS.
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

George London Award Recital Series
Annual recital series at The Morgan Library & Museum and Merkin Hall that provides award winners with performance exposure and New York debuts
George London Competition
Annual competition for young American and Canadian opera singers featuring semi-finals and a final round, with cash awards and public recognition
Juilliard Pre-College Scholarship Program
Provides scholarships to promising high school students enrolled in The Juilliard School's pre-college music program
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Arts Education Scholarships 2 activities
    • Awarding grants to emerging opera singers through the George London Awards competition
      Conducts an annual competition for American and Canadian opera singers, awarding up to six George London Awards of $12,000 each and encouragement awards of $2,000 to other finalists. The program has awarded over 300 prizes and more than $2 million since 1971.
    • Providing pre-college scholarships to high school students pursuing music study
      Offers annual scholarships ranging from $7,000 to $12,000 to 5–7 high school students, particularly those enrolled in The Juilliard School’s pre-college program. The scholarship program was established in 2010 and supports young musicians at the beginning of their training.
  • Music Awards and Honors Programs 1 activity
    • Conducting the George London Awards competition with preliminary and final rounds
      Hosts a multi-stage competition including a preliminary round for up to 90 singers and a final round at Merkin Hall where up to 15 finalists perform for judges. This process supports young singers’ development through evaluation and public performance opportunities.
  • Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
    • Hosting an annual recital series for award recipients
      Organizes an annual recital series that provides performance exposure, New York recital debuts, and stage experience for George London Award winners. Events have been held at the Morgan Library & Museum (2006–2025) and Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center (2026 onward).
  • Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
    • Making archival recordings of George London available to the public
      Provides public access to historic recordings of George London performing major operatic works, including selections from FAUST, Don Giovanni, Tosca, Boris Godunov, and others, preserving his artistic contributions.
  • Artist and Curatorial Publications 1 activity
    • Publishing artistic and biographical works related to George London
      Produces and publishes research-based creative works including the books "George London: Of Gods and Demons" and "Aria for George" by Nora London, and the documentary "George London: Between Gods and Demons," contributing to the preservation and dissemination of George London’s legacy.
  • Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
    • Supporting pre-college students through non-grantmaking activities
      Engages scholarship recipients by inviting them to attend competition finals and spring concerts featuring student-performed opera scenes, fostering community and educational enrichment beyond financial support.
  • Opera and Vocal Arts Training Programs 1 activity
    • Supporting young singers' performing experience through direct programming
      Enhances the stage experience of young singers through performance opportunities, including commissioning new works such as the song cycle Crossing Borders based on Nora London’s WWII diaries, premiered by a George London Award winner.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$292K
Contributions & grants$224K77%
Program service revenue$3K1%
Investment income$66K22%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$352K
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead26%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$61K
Grants paid out$101K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.46M
Cash$499K
Investments$954K
Liabilities$11K
Net assets$1.45M
Liquid reserves49.5 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -55.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MARGARITA MARTINEZ ADMINISTRATOR 40 $55K
board members · 24
  • ANDREW GARVIN — ADVISORY BOARD
  • BILL PALANT — ADVISORY BOARD
  • BRUCE DONNELL — ADVISORY BOARD
  • CRAIG RUTENBERG — ADVISORY BOARD
  • ENE RIISNE — EXECUTIVE BOARD
  • ERIC WOLLBERG — TREASURER
  • GEORGE SHIRLEY — ADVISORY BOARD
  • HAROLYN BLACKWELL — EXECUTIVE BOARD
  • JAMES D RIGLER — EXECUTIVE BOARD
  • JAMES MORRIS — ADVISORY BOARD
  • JOHN H HAUSER — PRESIDENT
  • JOHN WOLLBERG — EXECUTIVE BOARD
  • KATRINA LONDON — ADVISORY BOARD
  • KEN NODA — ADVISORY BOARD
  • MARC D LONDON — SECRETARY
  • MARINA LONDON — VICE PRESIDENT
  • MATTHEW A HORNER — EXECUTIVE BOARD
  • MATTHEW EPSTEIN — ADVISORY BOARD
  • MICHAEL BENCHETRIT — ADVISORY BOARD
  • NEIL SHICOFF — ADVISORY BOARD
  • PAMELA DREXEL — ADVISORY BOARD
  • RENEE FLEMING — ADVISORY BOARD
  • SARAH BILLINGHURST SOLOMON — ADVISORY BOARD
  • SUSANNE MENTZER — EXECUTIVE BOARD
relationships · 16

Who they work with

  • Gene Scheer Partner — Collaborated on the libretto for the commissioned song cycle based on Nora London’s WWII diaries.
  • Jake Heggie Partner — Commissioned to compose a song cycle based on Nora London’s WWII diaries.
  • Juilliard Partner — Collaborates with Juilliard to provide pre-college scholarships for talented music students.
  • Juilliard Pre-College program Partner — Collaborates with the Juilliard Pre-College program to identify and support high school voice students through scholarships.
  • Kaufman Music Center Partner — Hosts the annual George London Foundation recital series at Merkin Hall starting in 2026.
  • Kaufman Music Center Partner — Hosts the final round of the George London Awards competition at Merkin Hall.
  • Manhattan School of Music Partner — Faculty members from Manhattan School of Music participate as judges in the foundation's competition.
  • Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center Partner — Hosts recitals and events presented by Foundation awardees
  • Morgan Library & Museum Partner — Hosted the annual George London Foundation recital series from 2006 to 2025.
  • National Endowment for the Arts Government — Provided foundational support for the establishment of the George and Nora London Foundation for Singers.
  • National Endowment for the Arts Government — Supported the establishment of the George and Nora London Foundation for Singers in 1971.
  • National Opera Institute Government — Provided foundational support for the establishment of the George and Nora London Foundation for Singers.
  • National Opera Institute Partner — Supported the establishment of the George and Nora London Foundation for Singers in 1971.
  • The Juilliard School Partner — Collaborates to provide scholarships for high school students in its pre-college program.
  • The Juilliard School Partner — Collaborates with The Juilliard School to provide scholarships to students in its pre-college program.
  • The Morgan Library & Museum Partner — Hosts the final round of the George London Competition and recitals at Gilder Lehrman Hall.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Early-Career Support Through Financial Aid and Performance Opportunities
    methodology: early_career_support
    By providing financial aid, competitive awards, and high-visibility performance opportunities, the foundation helps early-career opera singers overcome barriers to professional sustainability, because financial stability and public recognition are critical catalysts for launching and advancing careers in opera.
  • Legacy Preservation Through Biographical and Archival Media
    methodology: cultural_preservation_through_media
    By publishing biographies, producing documentaries, and releasing archival performances, the foundation sustains public appreciation of George London’s artistry and ensures enduring cultural access, because narrative and media preservation strengthens historical continuity and inspires future artists.
  • Youth Investment for Long-Term Cultural Engagement
    methodology: two_generation_approach
    By investing in pre-college music students, the foundation cultivates future performers and informed audiences, because early exposure to classical music builds lifelong appreciation and sustains the art form across generations.