SAVANNAH, GA – May 19, 2026 –The Sherrill Milnes VOICE Programs is proud to announce one of its artists in development, Benjamin Sokol, has been awarded the 2026 Carlisle Floyd Centennial Prize. The award of $2,500 recognizes Sokol’s talents as a promising young opera singer and is the organization’s first time awarding this prize. Sherrill Milnes VOICE Programs made the announcement at its annual gala in New York City on May 6.
“Receiving the Carlisle Floyd Prize from the Carlisle Floyd Foundation is an honor for which I am deeply grateful.” said Sokol. “I am mindful that any work I do is possible only because of the generosity of the great opera singers, teachers, and educators who have guided and mentored me, and whose example continues to shape my path.”
Sokol continued, “I hold a profound love and respect for the music of Carlisle Floyd, whose artistic voice has left an enduring imprint on American art and continues to teach us how to listen attentively, with honesty, care and above all, a full heart. I accept this prize with humility and thanks, conscious of the legacy it represents and hopeful to honor it through continued learning, service, and dedication to this incredible art form.”
Sokol, a bass-baritone, is a previous Milnes VOICE Scholarship winner with many performance accolades. He has performed in Milnes’ Savannah VOICE Festival productions such as Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto” and Michael Ching’s “A Royal Feast.”
Carlisle Floyd is attributed as the Father of American Opera. The Carlisle Floyd Centennial organizations aims to celebrate his life, music and centennial year.
“I know my uncle would be thrilled that his longtime, dear friends, Maria Zouves and Sherrill Milnes are contributing to his centennial in such a meaningful way,” said Jane Floyd Matheny, Board Chair of The Carlisle Floyd Centennial. “Nurturing new singers was Carlisle’s passion and nobody does it better than The Milnes VOICE Experience.”
The Carlisle Floyd Centennial will honor the opera singer with a concert on June 20 at Carnegie Hall. Sokol will also be recognized during the celebration.
The Carlisle Floyd Centennial is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of composer Carlisle Floyd through performance, scholarship, and education. Working in partnership with opera companies, orchestras, universities, libraries, and publishers, the Centennial supports performances, research initiatives, and public programs that deepen engagement with Floyd’s work. Partners include Houston Grand Opera, Boosey & Hawkes, the University of Houston, Florida State University, and the South Caroliniana Library. The organization is overseen by Executive Director Christopher Ray, a conductor who served as Floyd’s assistant. Jane Matheny, Floyd’s niece, serves as Chairman of the Board, with board members Henry Fulmer, Jerry Henry, and Michael McGinley. Marking the 100th anniversary of Floyd’s birth, the Centennial’s activities in 2026–2027 include performances, new productions, and educational initiatives across the United States, offering a renewed look at one of the central figures in American opera. For more information about the Carlisle Floyd Centennial and performances in 2026, visit carlislefloyd.org.
The Milnes VOICE Programs, which includes Savannah VOICE Festival and VOICExperience, serve artists and patrons locally and globally, always embracing the ideals of a diverse community. VOICExperience is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by world-renowned baritone Sherrill Milnes and soprano Maria Zouves. Its mission is to pass on the traditions of great singing and develop new audiences for opera. Since 2001, VOICExperience has helped thousands of singers find their career path through educational programs and workshops, where emerging artists work with the best names in opera, musical theatre and song.
For more information on the Milnes VOICE Programs, visit voicexperiencefoundation.org.
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