Academy of Vocal Arts

Stephen Costello (AVA '07) performed on Articulate for an exclusive concert show celebrating Mario Lanza’s centenary. He reflects on the life and work of the beloved singer and Hollywood star. Watch below! https://articulateshow.org/videos/mario-lanza-at-100/

We couldn't be more excited to share our program A Celebration of American Composers starting at 7:30 P.M. EST tomorrow! Our Administrative Associate Stephen Trygar sat down with the music director Luke Housner to get a behind-the-scenes look at this great program. Check out the AVA Opera Blog for some insight into tomorrow's recital! https://avaoperablog.wordpress.com//a-celebration-of-amer/

The entire AVA family mourns the loss of longtime Board member and patron Cindy Landreth. Everyone at AVA will miss Cindy’s quick wit, sense of humor, and true love of opera and our Resident Artists, past and present. Cindy joined the Board of AVA in 2008, serving on various committees and became Vice Chair in 2013. She along with her husband, Charlie, were a fixture at performances, recitals, galas, and other AVA events. In 2019, the AVA Board of Directors bestowed on her t...he Outstanding Service Award. Cindy’s unwavering support for AVA will never be forgotten. Her dedication to this institution was felt by all, especially by the singers whom she loved dearly. She will be greatly missed by the entire AVA community, said AVA President and Artistic Director Kevin McDowell. Thank you Cindy for all you’ve done for AVA, we will miss you.

Today we are wishing Resident Artist Griffen Hogan Tracy a very happy birthday!

Thank you Operawire for including our "Celebration of American Composers" recital in your round-up of Top 10 virtual events to stream this week! https://operawire.com/jessye-norman-regine-crespin-jamie-b/

Join us this weekend with a free virtual concert celebrating American composers, featuring pieces by Copland, Barber, Ives, Menotti and more! Enjoy this BTS clip from filming with Luke Housner and Eric Delagrange, Bass-Baritone, and don’t forget to register: https://avaopera.org/e/a-celebration-of-american-composers/ https://www.facebook.com/avaopera/videos/904235510330908

ON SALE NOW - The Giargiari Bel Canto Competition returns, virtually! AVA’s annual favorite vocal competition returns on October 24, from the comfort of your own home! The Giargiari Bel Canto Competition has seen such international opera stars as Angela Meade, Stephen Costello, Michael Fabiano and Ailyn Pérez win prizes over its 40 year history. Now is your chance to hear the future stars of opera, right from your house! Tickets are just $10 minimum, and we do encourage patr...ons to pay more if they are able to (Giargiari tickets at the Perelman Center are $50+)! The competition will be streamed via YouTube. Performers, repertoire and additional streaming details will be announced soon. https://www.avaopera.org//2020/giargiari-bel-canto-compet/ See more

Just a few hours to go until Giargiari premieres! There's still time to snag your $10 tickets: https://www.avaopera.org//2020/giargiari-bel-canto-compet/

We're just two days away from the Virtual Giargiari Bel Canto Competition! The competition will air this Saturday at 7:30PM on AVA’s YouTube channel. Can't watch live? Don't worry -the performance available for 48 hours after the launch time. Your access to the performance will begin at 7:30pm EST Saturday, October 24 and end on Monday, October 26 at 7:30pm EST, so if you can't watch immediately, it will still be waiting for you. Tickets: https://www.avaopera.org//2020/giargiari-bel-canto-compet/

We've been sharing a lot of the behind-the-scenes from our Giargiari competition filming - this might be the cutest BTS shot though. Meet Talulah, the pup of AVA's President and Artist Director Kevin McDowell. She's a consummate professional!

Please join us in wishing a very happy birthday to first-year Resident Artist Monique Galvão!

Announcing the competition's performers and repertoire! Join us this weekend for our virtual Giargiari Bel Canto Vocal Competition! The competition will be an interactive experience for audience members, as they will have the opportunity to participate in a live chat and vote on their favorite singer of the evening. This is a unique opportunity for AVA audiences - both new and experienced - to encounter AVA in an exciting way. https://www.avaopera.org//2020/giargiari-bel-canto-compet/

We are just ONE week away from our first ever virtual performance! Join us next Saturday for the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition. Tickets: https://www.avaopera.org//2020/giargiari-bel-canto-compet/ Photo from last year’s competition with Danielle Orlando and Resident Artist Eric Delagrange

Our virtual bel canto competition offers new perspectives, in more ways than one. Here you’ll see a behind-the-scenes view of filming yesterday with Giargiari Music Director Danielle Orlando and mezzo-soprano Chelsea Laggan. We’re offering a view of the theater many don’t typically experience, save for the singers on stage! Purchase your tickets today for this virtual experience: https://www.avaopera.org//2020/giargiari-bel-canto-compet/

A behind the scenes look at Virtual Giargiari Bel Canto Competition recording day two. It’s been exciting to see this project come to life and to be making music again. We thank Danielle Orlando, our participating Resident Artists, Weston Sound & Video and Midnight Productions for making this possible. Get your tickets today: https://www.avaopera.org//2020/giargiari-bel-canto-compet/

Please join us in wishing happy birthdays to Resident Artists Joanna Latini who celebrated her birthday yesterday, and to Eric Delagrange who is celebrating his today!

BEHIND THE SCENES - Resident Artist Aubry Ballarò and Master Vocal Coach Danielle Orlando rehearse for the Giargiari Bel Canto competition. AVA alumnus John Myers, who also does videography and photography (follow his work at @j_m_m_photography in Instagram) aided in preparing Resident Artists with the set-up of performing with lighting, cameras and audio. The participants were able to see and hear themselves immediately after rehearsing, to help prepare them for more filming next week. Purchase your tickets today for the virtual competition: https://www.avaopera.org//2020/giargiari-bel-canto-compet/

Fall season brochures are hitting mailboxes this week! Have a closer look into our virtual season, which includes the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition, the New Artists Recital and Russian Romances concert.

AVA alumnus Alasdair Kent will perform the role of Arturo in Bellini's I Puritani with Ópera de Oviedo this month! More details are below. Toi, toi, toi Alasdair! https://www.facebook.com//a.330314156976/3331831450227620/