The prizes, given annually by Lincoln Center "to two rising young artists in recognition of outstanding achievement," were established in 1986 in honor of former Lincoln Center board chairman Martin E. Segal. Each year two of the Center's 12 consitutent organizations, on a rotating basis, nominate a recipient of the award, which includes a $5,000 cash grant to be used for study and career advancement. Last year's winners were Xian Zhang, associate conductor of the New York Philharmonic, and actor Jason Ritter of Lincoln Center Theater; the 2005 laureates were soprano Anna Christy (New York City Opera) and filmmaker Jim McKay (Film Society of Lincoln Center). The 2007 winners were chosen by the Metropolitan Opera and The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Lincoln Center Chairman Frank A. Bennack, Jr. and President Reynold Levy, along with Martin Segal himself, presented the awards at a luncheon today in Lincoln Center's Kaplan Penthouse. Lindsey received her honor in person; Chamber Music Society co-artistic director Wu Han accepted the other prize on behalf of the Daedalus Quartet, which is on tour.

Now in her mid-twenties, mezzo Kate Lindsey is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Music and a third-year member of the Met's Lindemann program. She made her debut with the company as Javotte in Massenet's Manon in 2005 and has performed other comprimario roles this season; next season she sings Cherubino with the company in Le nozze di Figaro. She took first place at the 2005 Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation Competition and was a winner at the George London Foundation Awards competition earlier this month.

Founded in 2000, the Daedalus Quartet took the grand prize at the 2001 Banff International String Quartet Competition and has since released a CD on Bridge Records and performed in more than a dozen major European concert halls as well as at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Library of Congress. Composed of cellist Raman Ramakrishnan, violist Jessica Thompson, and sibling violinists Kyu-Young and Min-Young Kim, the Daedalus Quartet is currently in its final year of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's Chamber Music Society Two program, a three-season residency offering performance opportunities and training for outstanding young artists.