Academy of Vocal Arts

Academy of Vocal Arts Premier Opera Academy. Giving Voice To Opera’s Future.🎭✨

The Academy of Vocal Arts trains some of the opera world's most exciting singers in its four-year, tuition-free program. Artists come from throughout the world to take advantage of its unique program tailored to each individual, while giving the opportunity to perform leading roles with a professional orchestra. Program limited to 25 - 27 singers who work with a world-class faculty, including Christofer Macatsoris, Danielle Orlando, and Bill Schuman.

AVA is proud to host A Night To Remember, a special supporting The Met Opera Laffont Competition’s Philadelphia District...
09/08/2026

AVA is proud to host A Night To Remember, a special supporting The Met Opera Laffont Competition’s Philadelphia District featuring a powerhouse lineup of AVA alumni!🎭

🎟️Get your tickets and choose your way to give at the links in our bios!

🗓️Saturday, September 19, 7:00 PM

AVA’s Helen Corning Warden Theater
1920 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

We proudly welcome our incoming class of six new Resident Artists as they make their AVA performance debuts!🎼🎶Don’t miss...
09/03/2026

We proudly welcome our incoming class of six new Resident Artists as they make their AVA performance debuts!🎼🎶

Don’t miss your chance to hear them perform a masterfully curated selection of enchanting arias and poignant art songs. Come experience the future stars of opera!✨

🎟️ Get your tickets today at the link in our bio!

Music Director & Pianist: José Meléndez (Jose Melendez)

🗓️ Friday, September 25, 2026, 7:30 PM

📍Church of the Holy Trinity
1904 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

👉This event is free to AVA season subscribers.

📸: Morgan Horell (Morgan Horell)

Dear Friends of AVA,We write to you today to share an important announcement in the history of the Academy of Vocal Arts...
08/12/2026

Dear Friends of AVA,

We write to you today to share an important announcement in the history of the Academy of Vocal Arts. After a productive and successful search led by the Music Director Search Committee, Maestro Joseph Colaneri has been named as AVA’s new Jeannine B. Cowles Music Director Chair following the historic, legendary tenure of Music Director Emeritus Maestro Christofer Macatsoris. Maestro Colaneri brings extensive experience to AVA as a conductor, leader, and master teacher.

Maestro Colaneri comes to us from the internationally acclaimed Glimmerglass Festival, where he has served as Music Director since 2013. Additionally, he has appeared as guest conductor in a host of productions at The Metropolitan Opera since 1998 as well as opera houses throughout the world. He has established himself as a veteran educator after two decades as Artistic Director of the opera program at the Mannes School of Music. AVA audiences will remember him from his successful debut in 2025 conducting L’amico Fritz, followed by his return to the podium for Le nozze di Figaro.

In his new role, Maestro Colaneri will lead AVA’s faculty and music staff, set the tone for the education and training of our Resident Artists, and conduct our productions featuring the AVA Opera Orchestra.

Please join us in extending a heartfelt welcome to Maestro Colaneri and wish him the greatest success as he picks up the baton as our next musical leader.

With best regards,

Harold F. “Rick” Pitcairn II
Board Chairman

Scott Guzielek
President & Artistic Director

📰Read the full announcement at the link in our bio.🔗

The 2026-27 Opera Season is on sale now!🎭🎶Subscribe now and save up to 15% off the price of single tickets and guarantee...
07/23/2026

The 2026-27 Opera Season is on sale now!🎭🎶

Subscribe now and save up to 15% off the price of single tickets and guarantee your seats for our sell-out performances. Customize your season experience, choose your preferred venues, and save!

🎟️Click the link in our bio to buy subscriptions and single tickets, or call us at 215.735.1685.

2026-27 Opera Season🗓️

New Artist Recital🎶
September 25, 2026
Music Director & Pianist: José Meléndez

Giargiari Bel Canto Competition🏆
October 3, 2026
Music Director & Pianist: Danielle Orlando

L’elisir d’amore | Gaetano Donizetti🍾
November 7 – December 1, 2026
Conductor: Steven White
Stage Director: Damon Nestor Ploumis (AVA ‘99)
Scenic Designer: Cameron Anderson

Métamorphoses: Three Centuries of French Imagination🇫🇷
December 9–11, 2026
Music Director & Pianist: Matthieu Cognet

Il tabarro / Gianni Schicchi | Giacomo Puccini🚢📝
February 13–20, 2027
Conductor: Joseph Colaneri
Stage Director: John de los Santos
Scenic Designer: Cameron Anderson

Tapestry: Threads of American Song🪡🇺🇸
March 16–18, 2027
Music Director & Pianist: Michael Lewis

Il trovatore | Giuseppe Verdi⚔️
April 17 – May 4, 2027
Conductor: Joseph Colaneri
Stage Director: Jeffrey Buchman
Scenic Designer: Cameron Anderson

Farewell Recital🎓
May 13, 2027
Music Director: José Meléndez

Meet AVA’s new Resident Artists!🎭Jamie Felix-Toll, bass-baritone ()Jamie most recently performed the roles of Ignacio in...
07/22/2026

Meet AVA’s new Resident Artists!🎭

Jamie Felix-Toll, bass-baritone ()

Jamie most recently performed the roles of Ignacio in Lucrezia and covered Masetto in Don Giovanni at Music Academy of the West, and sang The Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk with the Oberlin Opera Outreach Tour. He recently completed a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Oberlin Conservatory and has also trained as a Fellow and Studio Artist at Music Academy of the West and as an Emerging Artist with Bel Canto in Tuscany.

🔗Learn more about AVA’s new Resident Artists via the link in our bio!

Meet AVA’s new Resident Artists!🎭Jason Hwang, baritone () Jason most recently appeared as Papageno in Die Zauberflöte at...
07/22/2026

Meet AVA’s new Resident Artists!🎭

Jason Hwang, baritone ()

Jason most recently appeared as Papageno in Die Zauberflöte at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi at The Juilliard School, and covered Johannes Zegner in Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up at Juilliard. Additional credits include Il Marito in Amelia al Ballo and Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Jason earned a Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School and was a 2026 Renée Fleming Artist at the Aspen Music Festival.

🔗Learn more about AVA’s new Resident Artists via the link in our bio!

Meet AVA’s new Resident Artists!🎭Ryan Michki, tenor ()Ryan recently performed in scenes from Les pêcheurs de perles, The...
07/22/2026

Meet AVA’s new Resident Artists!🎭

Ryan Michki, tenor ()

Ryan recently performed in scenes from Les pêcheurs de perles, The Bartered Bride, and La gazza ladra with the Bard College Opera Workshop. He has also appeared as a Chorus Fellow at the Spoleto Festival and participated in the Opera Saratoga Summer Festival. Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degrees in Vocal Performance at the Bard Conservatory of Music and Historical Studies at Bard College.

🔗Learn more about AVA’s new Resident Artists via the link in our bio!

Meet AVA’s New Resident Artists!Brenden Christie, tenor ()Brenden most recently appeared as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte wi...
07/22/2026

Meet AVA’s New Resident Artists!

Brenden Christie, tenor ()

Brenden most recently appeared as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with the Chautauqua Opera Conservatory, Alfred in scenes from Die Fledermaus with the International Lyric Academy in Italy, and Laurie in scenes from Little Women with the International Lyric Academy. His additional performance experience includes leading roles with the College Light Opera Company, Milligan University, and Jonesborough Repertory Theatre.

🔗Learn more about AVA’s new Resident Artists via the link in our bio!

Meet AVA’s New Resident Artists!Stella FitzGerald, mezzo-soprano ()Stella recently appeared as Prince Charmant in Cendri...
07/22/2026

Meet AVA’s New Resident Artists!

Stella FitzGerald, mezzo-soprano ()

Stella recently appeared as Prince Charmant in Cendrillon with the Cincinnati Conservatory Opera Mainstage, Lucrezia in Lucrezia at Music Academy of the West, and Presendia in Dark Sisters with Cincinnati Conservatory. She recently completed a Master of Music in Voice Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Boston University.

🔗Learn more about AVA’s new Resident Artists via the link in our bio!

Meet AVA’s New Resident Artists!🎭Ashley Ruckman, soprano ()Ashley recently appeared as Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto wit...
07/22/2026

Meet AVA’s New Resident Artists!🎭

Ashley Ruckman, soprano ()

Ashley recently appeared as Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto with Indianapolis Opera, and as Karolina in Swimming in the Dark at The Studios of Key West. She holds a Master of Music degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from Wichita State University. Additional training includes residencies and artist programs with Indianapolis Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, Opera Lucca, and the Dallas Opera Hart Institute.

🔗Learn more about AVA’s new Resident Artists via the link in our bio!

Address

1920 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA
19103

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12157351685

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