The national coverage of the controversy and decision led popular singer Harry Belafonte to offer to pay Conrad's way at any institution she chose.
[4] Although Conrad did not take up Belafonte's offer to change schools, expenses paid, she benefited from his patronage after graduation, when he introduced her to his circles in New York.
She played a featured role in the 1977 ABC movie Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years as American contralto Marian Anderson.
She was a co-founder of the Wagner Theater Program at the Manhattan School of Music, dedicated to training performers for Wagnerian roles, and served as its vocal director.
"[7] Opera Wire journalist Katharine Baran paid tribute by acknowledging, among other things, Conrad's esteemed career in New York City.
"[9] Conrad is the focus of the feature-length documentary When I Rise, produced by James Moll and Michael Rosen and directed by Mat Hames.