He will be honored at the Classical Singer Convention in Philadelphia on May 20.
"We voice coaches often feel that we work in the trenches of the music business; how wonderful to be recognized in our specialized, easily overlooked profession," Blier said. "I'm very grateful indeed—but I must get back to the piano!"
The late mezzo-soprano Carla Wood created Classical Singer in 1988, initially calling it the New York Opera Newsletter. She later founded a national convention and a college expo for singers.