Wilkinson Young Singers Fund Inc

Through December 31, every dollar that the Wilkinson Young Singers Fund raises (up to $10,000) will be matched by two dollars — tripling the impact of your support!

Please help us continue the legacy of baritone Don Wilkinson by supporting talented up-and-coming singers in the Boston area and enabling us to program more unforgettable recitals that showcase the talents of these brilliant artists.

As Anne Azéma, Artistic Director of The Boston Camerata, said on the night of the inaugural Wilkinson Fund recital, held in April 2023: “Donnie was here tonight.” A standing-room-only crowd filled the recital hall at Emmanuel Church in Boston, where Don had sung for nearly 30 years. With impressive technique, dramatic flair, and deep emotional intensity, Kaileigh Riess and Ryan Lustgarten — our 2020 and 2021 first-prize winners — and musical director Matthew Larson transported the audience on a passionate journey, from Donizetti to Rodgers & Hammerstein, and discovered that in the end, love prevails above all else. By the close of the recital, Don’s spirit was in the air, the audience was on its feet, and board members were in tears. Two audience members were so moved that they each offered to match every dollar we raise through our GoFundMe campaign.

Established in 2020, the Wilkinson Young Singers Fund (WYSF) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that honors the memory and legacy of the prolific baritone, teacher, and musician Donald R. Wilkinson (1961–2018). The goal of the Fund is to provide financial support for classically trained singers between the ages of 20 and 30 who live in the Greater Boston area and are pursuing a professional career in music. Using Don’s life as a model, we aspire to support young singers who exhibit an abundance of raw talent, expertise in the craft of singing, a high level of professionalism, and a dedication to sharing their gifts with their community. To learn more, visit www.wilkinsonfund.org