The New York Vocal Arts Academy will be a one-to-two year, fully sponsored program for exceptional young singers aimed at bridging the gap between academic life and a professional international career.

The New York Vocal Arts Academy constitutes the continuation of the work lead by Dr. Emilio Pons at the Sankt Goar International Music Festival and Academy, which brought emerging singers in direct contact with and allowed them to be guided by casting directors and general managers of leading European opera houses and festivals, thereby launching the careers of many young singers.

NYVAA will serve emerging singers from and/or based in the American continent.

Jean Dennes (Oper Zürich, now Theater Basel) with French pianist and coach Thomas Bessnard.

Masterclass with German star counter-tenor Andreas Scholl.

Masterclass with acclaimed British pianist Julius Drake

Masterclass with Boris Ignatov (Oper Stuttgart)

Masterclass with internationally acclaimed soprano, KS Edda Moser, with American pianist and coach, Travis Bloom

Masterclass with Sebastian Schwarz (then: Theater an der Wien) and Mexican tenor Armando Elizondo

Masterclass with Alain Perroux (then: Festival d'Aix-en-Provence; currently: Strasbourg; designated new general manager of Grand Théâtre de Genève)

Masterclass with American star mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore

Masterclass with American tenor Larry Brownlee

What we will offer:

3 hours a week of voice lessons focused on developing technical skills.
3 hours a week of one-on-one coaching in a master class setting for the benefit of all participants.
Each participant will be the subject of one of the multiple weekly master classes.
Participants will enjoy master classes with currently active opera singers of international caliber and with casting directors and agents.
50% of resident artists will be international students who will be speakers of one of the four target languages (German, French, Italian, Russian), and who will teach their peers in consideration for the benefits they will be receiving. American students, in turn, will contribute to the daily operations of the academy. These jobs will earn them a monthly stipend.
Guided visits to museums, concert and opera performances.
Students will receive financial advice, a crucial aspect which is often, if not always, overlooked, given the unstable nature of income in the performing arts.