The Marian Anderson Award, which recognizes leadership in humanitarian causes, will this year honor actress Ruby Dee, who also accepts the award on behalf of her late husband, Ossie Davis. The gala event will also feature jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and is preceded by a black-tie dinner.

Graves, who is well known for her performances in the title roles in Carmen and Samson et Dalila, made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the 1995-96 season. She has also performed with the Vienna Staatsoper, the Royal Opera, San Francisco Opera, Op_ra National de Paris, and Lyric Opera of Chicago, among many others.

Recently she performed the title role in the world premiere of the Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison'sMargaret Garner.