A tenor from New Orleans is being touted as a future star of the opera world.

Bryan Hymel has won the prestigious Beverly Sills Award. The $50,000 prize in honour of the late American diva is awarded annually to a vocalist between 25 and 40 who has appeared in a featured role at the Metropolitan Opera.

The 33-year-old Hymel made his debut there in December, when he jumped in to take over the daunting lead role in Berlioz’s The Trojans from another singer. He’ll sing Puccini’s Madame Butterfly at the Met next season.

Hymel’s powerful but lyrical voice already has triumphed at London’s Covent Garden, La Scala, and Carnegie Hall. Toronto audiences saw Bryan Hymel sing the role of Don Jose in Carmen for the Canadian Opera Company in 2010.