YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

YAP presents Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi

More info coming soon!

Friday, June 13 at 7:30pm

Sunday, June 15, at 2:00pm

Opera Company of Middlebury’s Young Artist Program 2025

Gianni Schicchi (OCM June 2016)

Gianni Schicchi (OCM June 2016)

ABOUT

Our Young Artist Program (YAP) empowers emerging professionals with the refined skills, hands-on experience, and strategic guidance that lead to a successful opera career and a thriving future.

Participants are immersed in a comprehensive training regimen featuring individualized coaching, career advisory sessions, and enlightening master classes with eminent industry professionals, including voice instructors, conductors, directors, managers, and mainstage performers.

This enriching experience culminates in their contributions to the Ensemble and Comprimario roles in mainstage productions and their own curated concert, showcasing their individual talent, progress, and potential.

The YAP represents an investment in both the future of opera and the artists who will shape it, epitomizing the harmonious blend of artistic passion and professional acumen.

BACKGROUND

The Young Artist Program (YAP) emerged following a resonant letter from Patricia Pisanelli, who, in honor of her opera-loving mother Dorothea Ferger Pisanelli, generously contributed a substantial gift in 2015. Patricia's heartfelt narrative of her mother's passion for opera, encompassing her own singing, knowledge, and cherished recordings, breathed life into the YAP's inception. This legacy-driven gift stands as a guiding light, nurturing the education of emerging artists and bolstering the Opera Company of Middlebury's enduring success.

In addition to collaborating with singers, the YAP also offers avenues for emerging pianists and administrative professionals. All participants benefit from housing accommodations and a travel stipend, ensuring a practical and immersive experience.

At the helm of the Young Artist Program is Sarah Cullins, whose seasoned leadership, performance, and teaching experience bring a pragmatic and insightful direction to the initiative.

Explore the 2024/25 Season

We can’t wait to share our 2024/25 season with you!