Alan Held, Ann and Dennis Ross Faculty of Distinction in Opera in the School of Music, was recognized with the 2026 Kansas Governor’s Arts Award from the Kansas Arts Commission.
This honor recognizes Held’s profound impact on the state’s cultural vitality. After a storied career performing over 80 major roles at the world’s premier venues — including the Metropolitan Opera and the Vienna State Opera — Held returned to his alma mater to cultivate the next generation of vocal artists.