NEW YORK – Olivia Hellman won the Florence Birdwell Award for first prize in the 2026 NATS National Musical Theatre Competition on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Neidorff-Karpati Recital Hall at the Manhattan School of Music. A student of Margaret Gordon, Hellman received more than $10,000 in cash and prizes.

Among the five finalists, Grace Bobber, student of Missy Wise, received the Linda J. Snyder Award (second prize) and $3,500 in cash and prizes; Luke Weber, student of Shayna Isaacs, received the Louise Lerch Award (third prize) and $2,500 in cash and prizes; Melissa Burke-Manwaring, student of Susan Eichhorn Young, received the Bill Hayes Award (fourth prize) and $1,500 in cash and prizes, and Aryssa Burrs, student of Carol Evans, received the inaugural Adam Guettel Award (fifth prize) and $500 in cash and prizes.

2026 NMTC Florence Birdwell Award winner (first prize) Olivia Hellman. Photo credit: Toby Winarto.

The semifinal auditions and finals showcase of the 2026 National Musical Theatre Competition were held in conjunction with the NATS 2026 Winter Workshop. These emerging professional musical theatre artists performed in front of a live audience of top industry professionals. The event also honored distinguished voice teacher and coach Joan Lader, whose four-decade career has guided countless singers and actors across Broadway, film, opera, and popular music.

Acclaimed SiriusXM program director Julie James emceed the competition. Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist and teacher Adam Guettel served as one of the finals showcase adjudicators. Marc Bruni, Matt Redmond, and Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer also served as adjudicators for the finals showcase. Actor Oyoyo Joi, whose credits include Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national tours, made a guest appearance during the competition deliberations performing “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman.

Event and prize sponsors include Hal Leonard Corporation, Manhattan School of Music, Matthew Corozine Acting Studio & Theatre, Michael Hull Photo, Broadway Vox, Retreat to Broadway, Bedell Cellars, OPERA America, Spencer Glass Coaching, Audition Bootcamp with Kathy Dietch, Sabella Vox Studios, KGM Studio, Appcompanist, and the Foundation Heritage Fund of the NATS Endowment.

NATS is grateful to the many donors whose generosity and belief in the power of musical theatre have enriched the National Musical Theatre Competition and empowered the next generation of talented performers. Please see complete list of donors and sponsors in the program.

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As the Florence Birdwell Award (first prize) winner, Hellman receives a $10,000 cash award, a featured performance at the 2026 NATS National Conference in San Antonio, a performance slot in Susie Mosher’s Line-up at Green Room 42, a career coaching session with Spencer Glass of Spencer Glass Coaching, a $1,000 gift certificate from Hal Leonard Corporation, and a headshot session with Michael Hull of Michael Hull Photo.

2026 NMTC Florence Birdwell Award winner (first prize) Olivia Hellman with pianist Aaron Jodoin. Photo credit: Toby Winarto.

The NATS National Musical Theatre Competition (NMTC) was launched in 2011 as the first national competition for the emerging professional musical theatre artist. More than 1,200 singer-actors have participated since its inception. NMTC alumni have appeared on Broadway in The Great Gatsby, Ragtime, Aladdin, Dear Evan Hansen, On Your Feet, Bad Cinderella, The Phantom of the Opera, Merrily We Roll Along, Hello, Dolly!, Carousel, Amélie, 1776, Violet, New York, New York, Into the Woods, KPOP, Wicked, Ain’t Too Proud, Fiddler on the Roof, Harmony, Funny Girl, and more.

2026 NMTC finalists (L to R): Aryssa Burrs, Melissa Burke-Manwaring, Olivia Hellman, Grace Bobber, and Luke Weber.

2026 Finalists:

• Florence Birdwell Award (1st prize - $10,000 in cash and prizes): Olivia Hellman, New York, New York
• Linda J. Snyder Award (2nd prize - $3,500 in cash and prizes): Grace Bobber, Chicago, Illinois
• Louise Lerch Award (3rd prize - $2,500 in cash and prizes): Luke Weber, Dallas, Texas
• Bill Hayes Award (4th prize - $1,500 in cash and prizes): Melissa Burke-Manwaring, New York, New York
• Adam Guettel Award (5th prize - $500 in cash and prizes): Aryssa Burrs, Baltimore, Maryland

In addition to many generous prizes, all five finalists will receive a complimentary one-year subscription to Appcompanist, an app offering thousands of customizable piano accompaniments recorded by professional collaborative pianists for singers.

NATS also presented a new award for the 2026 NMTC finalists. In collaboration with award-winning cabaret singer, songwriter and So You Want to Sing Cabaret co-author Sue Matsuki, along with NATS Vice President for Auditions and NMTC Coordinator Alisa Belflower as the sponsor, NATS will produce a cabaret featuring the finalists at a prominent, Manhattan cabaret venue. Details to be announced.

About Olivia Hellman

Olivia Hellman is an Asian American performing artist and singer-songwriter originally from San Francisco, California. She studied musical theatre at NYU Tisch School of the Arts in the New Studio on Broadway. Her original music is available on all streaming platforms, and several singles have received recognition from national music and film festivals, including Best Music Video of the Month (for “Spoiler Alert”) at the Tracks Music Awards, and Best Female Solo Artist (for “Highway 17”) at the California Music Video and Film Awards. In addition to winning first prize at the 2026 NATS National Musical Theatre Competition, Hellman was a finalist in Playbill’s Search for a Star contest and BroadwayCon’s Star to Be competition. Learn more at oliviahellman.com.