The latest announcement from the Los Angeles Opera reveals that conductor Louis Lohraseb, stage director Kaneza Schaal, and administrator Patricia McLeod have been honored as the recipients of the prestigious 2024 Stern Artist Award.

Inaugurated in 2021, this award celebrates exceptional artists who have significantly enhanced the artistic landscape of the company. Notably, 2024 marks the first year where administrators have been included in the award consideration. The trio of awardees will collectively receive a generous cash grant of $75,000.

Louis Lohraseb, known for his professional debut at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma in 2019, was also a prominent figure in the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program from 2018 to 2020, collaborating closely with conductor James Conlon.

Kaneza Schaal, a distinguished stage director, has notably contributed to LA Opera with two widely acclaimed productions. In 2022, she directed the West Coast premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera "Omar" by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels. Her return in 2024 saw her helm the high-profile staging of William Grant Still's "Highway 1, USA," providing unprecedented exposure to the rarely performed opera.

Administrator Patricia McLeod, whose tenure spans 14 years with LA Opera, has played a pivotal role in securing the largest single gift in the company's history. Additionally, her strategic planning expertise significantly contributed to the nearly tripling of the organization's endowment.

Donor Marc Stern expressed profound gratitude for the exceptional artists who have enriched the theater's experiences over the years, emphasizing the significance of the Stern Artist Award in celebrating their contributions. He lauded Patricia McLeod's instrumental role in fostering an environment conducive to artistic expression, recognizing her inventive and dedicated approach in creating optimal conditions for the company's creative endeavors.