The dual missions of the Lehmann Foundation are to preserve and perpetuate Lotte Lehmann's legacy, and to honor her dream of bringing art song into the lives of as many people as possible.

In pursuit of these objectives the Foundation uses the latest technology and actively seeks to enlist the talent, creativity and passion of song lovers everywhere.

The Lotte Lehmann Foundation was invented in 1997 by Gary Hickling who served as its first President for the first six years of its existence. In January of 2003, Hickling determined to move the Foundation from its birthplace in Hawaii to New York City. Hickling retired from active service in 2005. The first New York-based President, composer Daron Hagen, served from 2004-2007. The foundation's current President is mezzo soprano Linn Maxwell.

A vibrant Board of Directors consisting of professional singers, collaborative pianists, composers, arts management professionals, conductors, academics, music journalists, and executives with a passion for the arts has worked together to support, strengthen, extend, and expand the Foundation's mission. A large number of specialists in the field of classical song (composers, singers, pianists, and educators) have also been assembled to serve as Advisors whose input has been important in guiding the Foundation's programs.

The Foundation sponsors two major music competitions: CyberSing, an Internet-based international Art Song Performance Competition for singers and pianists, takes place in even-numbered years; the ASCAP / Lotte Lehmann Foundation Song Cycle Competition, a major national composition prize, is held in odd-numbered years.

In March of 2006 the Foundation launched VoxNova Media, a media division specializing in the publication of new vocal compositions and artists, historical re-releases, and educational materials. Media formats include: mp3, cd, dvd, pdf, and podcast. VNM will post its first new-issue of print music in September of 2006 —  compositions by nearly a dozen major French composers, curated by Foundation Advisor Damien Top.

In March of 2010 the Foundation will launch a yearly series of masterclasses for singers in New York City. On 20 April 2007 the LLF co-sponsored its first art song recital at the Yamaha Concert Hall in New York City with the New York Singing Teachers' Association, featuring winners of both organizations' singing competitions.

Other ongoing functions of the Foundation include the bestowal each year of the World of Song Award to a notable singer, collaborative pianist, or composer of artsong, the bi-annual publication of SongScape, the official newsletter of the foundation, as well as underwriting the maintenance by Gary Hickling of his Official Lotte Lehmann Website and the Song! Website.

In July of 2006, the Foundation awarded a grant to the WFMT Radio Network to help underwrite the production and distribution by the WFMT Radio Network of a two hour radio documentary on the life and music of Lotte Lehmann, produced by Jon Tolansky, with Steve Robinson, executive producer.

World famous German soprano Lotte Lehmann (1888-1976) was one of the great musical artists of the 20th Century. Her influence in the world of music was enormous. Lehmann's glorious voice and expressive interpretive talent enthralled her audiences with material ranging from opera to Lieder (classical German song).

Gary Hickling and the Lehmann Foundation