TORONTO (March 18, 2026) – The Glenn Gould Foundation is pleased to announce that legendary musician and humanitarian Elton John, Laureate of The 15th Glenn Gould Prize has selected acclaimed Canadian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo as the recipient of the prestigious Glenn Gould Protégé Prize. She will receive her prize at The Glenn Gould Prize Gala honouring Elton John on May 9th at The Theatre at Great Canadian Toronto.
Widely celebrated as one of the most compelling vocal artists of her generation, D’Angelo has achieved international recognition for her powerful artistry, musical intelligence, and distinctive voice. Hailed by The New York Times as “one of the world’s special young singers,” Ms. D’Angelo has risen meteorically on the global stage since her professional operatic debut at age 21 as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro at the Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi. Today, she is a sought-after performer at the world’s leading opera houses and concert halls.
The Glenn Gould Prize is one of the most prestigious international awards recognizing a living individual of any nationality or creative field for a unique lifetime contribution that has enriched the human condition through the arts. Established in 1987 by The Glenn Gould Foundation to honour the legacy of the legendary Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, the prize is awarded biennially and includes a CDN$100,000 cash award for the Laureate, who personally selects an exceptional young artist of any nationality and from any artistic discipline to receive the CDN$25,000 Glenn Gould Protégé Prize.
Recipients are chosen for their exceptional creativity, vision, and artistry, reflecting the innovative spirit associated with the young Glenn Gould. Through this mentorship tradition, the Glenn Gould Prize program highlights the vital role of inspiration and encouragement between generations of artists, celebrating emerging talent while fostering future contributions to human expression and creativity.
With her fearless musical curiosity and magnificent voice, Emily D’Angelo exemplifies the bold artistic spirit the Protégé Prize was created to honour.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Glenn Gould Prize. Glenn was someone who challenged conventions and followed his own musical instincts wherever they led. But what makes this recognition truly special for me is the opportunity to share it with a remarkable young artist like Emily D’Angelo,” said Elton John. “One of the great privileges of having spent a lifetime in music is witnessing and championing young artists. Emily is brilliant, and I couldn’t be happier to share this honour with her.”
A Deutsche Grammophon exclusive recording artist, D’Angelo has earned widespread critical acclaim for both her operatic performances and her recordings. Her debut album energeia received both Juno Awards and Gramophone Awards honours, and she was named the 2025 recipient of the prestigious “Singer of the Year” award from Opus Klassik.
“Like countless millions, Elton John’s music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. To be recognized by one of the greatest recording and performing artists of all time is profoundly humbling and inspiring. Through his brilliance and individuality, Elton rose to the status of an absolute icon, reshaping the landscape of music and pop culture,” said Ms. D’Angelo. “Generations of artists have honed their voices by bearing witness to his vision and unceasing commitment to music. Elton is the epitome of cool: a testament to the possibility of transcending the individual by having the courage to be oneself. To be a part of this celebration is a gift. I will remain forever grateful, stunned, and honoured.”
In the 2025–26 season, D’Angelo returned to the stage of the Royal Opera House in London in the title role of Handel’s Ariodante, and appears again at the Vienna State Opera as Sesto in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito. Her concert schedule includes highly anticipated debuts with the London Symphony Orchestra performing Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontiusunder conducted by Antonio Pappano, and with The Philadelphia Orchestra performing Bernstein’s Symphony No. 1 “Jeremiah”, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
In recent seasons, D’Angelo has made a series of major debuts across the international opera world, including performances with the Metropolitan Opera, Berlin State Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Paris Opera, and the Bayerische Staatsoper. In 2024 she opened the Metropolitan Opera’s season starring as Jess in composer Jeanine Tesori’s opera Grounded, a role she first created in the work’s world premiere at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Established in 1993, the Glenn Gould Protégé Prize recognizes exceptional young creators whose work demonstrates outstanding promise and originality. The award includes a $25,000 cash prize and the Glenn Gould Prize statue created by Canadian artist Ruth Abernethy. Ms. D’Angelo will be presented the award by the Laureate at The Glenn Gould Prize Gala on May 9 in Toronto, an event at which she will also perform. Other performers include Diana Krall, The Beaches, Ron Sexsmith, Jeremy Dutcher, Ryan Wang and more,
Previous Protégé Prize winners include Cécile McLorin Salvant (bestowed by Laureate Jessye Norman), Gustavo Dudamel (bestowed by Laureate Jose Antonio Abreu) and Wu Man (bestowed by Laureate Yo Yo Ma). A complete listing of the Glenn Gould Prize Laureates and Glenn Gould Prize Protégé winners can be found at www.glenngould.ca
EVENT DETAILS
The Glenn Gould Prize Gala Honouring Elton John
Date: May 9, 2026
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: The Theatre at Great Canadian Toronto
Tickets: Ticketmaster
VIP Tables: Please contact [email protected]
Find more about The Glenn Gould Foundation at www.glenngould.ca
