June 2027 will bring the launch of an exciting new branch of the Camerata Bardi International Academy: our Collaborative Pianists’ Development Program, designed to help pianists who wish to grow as collaborators, explore the operatic repertoire, and develop their skills in coaching and conducting from the piano. The program will be part of our production of Don Giovanni and will include mentorship, workshops, training sessions on score preparation and operatic style (including recitativos and Italian diction), extensive observation and analysis of coachings and rehearsals, and the opportunity to coach young singers and play for their rehearsals under the guidance of experienced répétiteurs and conductors.

Topics for workshops and individual sessions will include:
• Operatic score study and preparation, including the interpretation of full scores
• Guidance and workshops on conducting and leading rehearsals from the piano
• Exploration of stylistic and musical topics including Mozartian recitativos, verismo style, performance practice in opera, Italian diction, and more
• Considerations and topics in coachings and role preparation work with singers, with particular emphasis on understanding breath, phrasing, and dynamics
• Self-branding, marketing, professional presentation, and the “art of the business”
• Opportunities for professional networking

The Program is open to young, upcoming opera singers and collaborative pianists who are interested in deepening their knowledge of the specific opera roles and repertoire offered in our 2027 Season, who are ready to debut those roles on stage and who are ready to grow artistically. Our mission is to pay particular attention to each and every participant and to ensure that by the end of this program, they have both had an important debut, and are ready to be a part of the professional, fast-paced world of opera.

Tuition Costs

Participants may select tuition with housing provided by Camerata Bardi or without housing.

Don Giovanni

The Leopard

Housing Included: Camerata Bardi will provide housing for the participant (in shared, double-occupancy rooms).

Housing Not Included: The participant is responsible for securing and paying for their own housing.

SCHOLARSHIPS

We will be offering three scholarships of $500 each, courtesy of an anonymous donor. Interest in a scholarship may be indicated during the application process.

Our tuition includes:

• All one-on-one workshops, coaching and lessons
• Targeted role mentoring program
• All Industry Development Seminars, which will focus on valuable career insights such as self-marketing, social media practices, networking, self-filming, and overall professional presentation
• Italian coachings
• Branding workshops

You may opt for tuition that includes housing, or you may elect to arrange your own housing and pay a smaller tuition fee. TUITION DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE/TRAVEL.

• Registration Fee | There is no registration fee.
• Payment schedule | Tuition payments are divided in two equal parts. The first payment is due on the first day of your admission, and the second payment is due on the first day of the program.
• Refund policies and disclaimers | Camerata Bardi International Academy commits to contracts to secure faculty, production stage director, creative crew and (if needed) housing for our participants. Therefore, once paid, tuition and fees are non-refundable. There are no exceptions to this policy. Performances have already been booked with our partner-companies and plans are being laid out for fully staged performances.
• Contracts | This is a small boutique program. All our participants will be offered performances and contracts.
• Force Majeure | Camerata Bardi International Academy shall have no liability whatsoever to the Artist if the Performance cannot go forward because of circumstances beyond the Producer’s reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, pandemic, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, blackouts, labor difficulties, war or civil unrest. However, Camerata Bardi International Academy will reschedule such performances.

Application Form for Singers (all productions)

Application Form for Pianists (Don Giovanni only)

THERE IS NO APPLICATION FEE.

REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR APPLICATION VIDEO:
- Video must not be older than 1 year
- Link must be visible to us (unlisted is fine, but no “private” links)
- We do not accept Dropbox submissions

PROCESS:
1. Fill in the form(s), including all required information and links to 1-2 recent videos of your singing/playing (hosted on YouTube/Vimeo/similar, viewable without special permission/no log-in required, from within the last year)
2. Applications will be reviewed and responded to as they come in, on a rolling basis
3. Candidates under consideration will be invited to an audition and interview with Artistic Director Stefanos Koroneos, in-person in NYC or via Zoom, in December and early January
4. Casting announcements will begin to go out on January 15th, 2027

Be in touch anytime! If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to us at hilarybaboukis@grattacielo.org.

Camerata Bardi International Academy is more than a place of study—it’s a launchpad for professional careers. Since 2021, nearly all our young artists have received or are scheduled to receive paid performance opportunities with Teatro Grattacielo and Harrison Friends of the Opera. Between 2021 and 2026, our partner companies awarded 53 professional contracts, and two alumni have already secured permanent fest positions in Europe. Multiple young artists have secured professional representation as a result of their work with us; similarly, many of our alumni have secured major contracts at companies across the country and around the world.

Our work is similarly well-received by the theatrical and operatic press, including positive reviews from Front Row Center, Opera News, Opening Night Online, OperaWorld, TheaterScene, The Theatre Times, and Voix des Arts, among others. Our approach bridges training and the stage, helping artists gain visibility, build professional experience, and earn back part of their tuition through paid engagements. Recent highlights include The Tempest (2026), The Tin Angel (2025), The 10 Faces of Maria Callas, Teatro Grattacielo’s La Vestale at the Gerald Lynch Theater, Beyond the Horizon (2024), and collaborations with Opera Columbus, Rossini Opera Festival, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, and Light Opera of New Jersey.

Many of our artists continue to thrive beyond the Academy—three Elixir of Love singers, for instance, signed with major international agents following performances in New York and Crete in 2024, and two singers from Le nozze di Figaro signed similar contracts after their New York performances in 2025. Our singers have similarly triumphed at multiple international competitions, including the District and Regional levels of the Metropolitan Opera's Laffont Competition and the most recent winnter of the Ottavio Ziino International Opera Competition, among others. These successes reflect our mission: to open real pathways from study to the professional stage.

Scroll down to read direct testimonials from our participants and alumni, and click through to read more and hear more about our alumni in the opera world!

“As a debutant tackling the very demanding role of Gianni Schicchi, Camerata Bardi Academy was very accommodating and all my artistic needs were fully catered for. I was allowed to work and grow comfortably within my own capabilities, whilst being gently nudged into becoming the best version of myself as an artist. The coachings and mentorship I received were tailored to my current level of artistry and set me up for immense development within a short span of time. The experience was truly the best way to kickstart my career as an opera singer.”

“My experience with Camerata Bardi was truly invaluable. I had the incredible opportunity to be cast as Cherubino in two productions with the company, and those experiences have been pivotal in my artistic journey. Stefanos is a wonderful director who strikes the perfect balance between vision, clarity, and nurturing support. He truly brings out the best in his artists.

After my first performance in New York City, I was contacted by an agent interested in representing me. That performance ended up kick-starting my career. I now have auditions lined up that I never would have gotten on my own, two leading roles back to back this fall, and another engagement with Opera Memphis this winter.

I highly recommend Camerata Bardi to anyone considering applying. It is a program that offers not only professional-level opportunities but also genuine artistic growth and connection.”

“Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy gave me a plethora of performance, outreach, and educational opportunities. Because of this, I now feel as though I am closer to being ready to enter the professional world of opera and have the support and resources to do so.”

Our Partners:
TEATRO GRATTACIELO
CULTURAL AND CONFERENCE CENTER OF CRETE
PHOENICIA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE VOICE
RHODES INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
APOLLON THEATER, SYROS
HARRISON FRIENDS OF THE OPERA
ATHENS PHILHARMONIA
OPERASTUDIO MOLISE
TEATRO SAVOIA CAMPOBASSO
TEATRO MARIA CANIGLIA SULMONA
COMUNE DI SULMONA
ACCADEMIA MUSICALE DELL'ALTO SANGRO
CAMERATA MUSICALE SULMONESE
ASSOCIAZIONE CULTURALE ARTURO GIOVANNITTI

The Flea Theater | NYC

Since 2021, Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy has presented a diverse range of productions, including works by Donizetti, Mozart, Bizet, and others across various venues in the U.S. and Europe. Highlights include the world premiere of Nicolas Flagello's Beyond the Horizon, productions of W. A. Mozart's Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte, G. Bizet's Carmen, and Mascagni's L'amico Fritz. The Academy also hosted the Camerata Bardi International Competition and partnered with global festivals for innovative co-productions, enhancing its impact on opera education and performance. For more details, visit our Season page.

Listen to Previous Young Artists

TEATRO GRATTACIELO 2021 ANNUAL GALA

TESTIMONIALS

Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy has been a such a pivotal part of my career as a young artist. Through this incredible program, I have gained the knowledge, experience, and opportunities that are necessary to succeed in the opera industry. I now feel confident in my abilities as an artist, and any future success I may have is greatly due to my experience with Camerata Bardi.

Working hand in hand with Teatro Grattacielo has definitely marked a before and after in my performance practice and life; It has been that bridge between being a student and being a professional. I have been given multiple opportunities to grow in a safe, nurturing environment and I'm very fortunate to have mentors in the company that push and challenge me to become the artist they know I have the potential to be.

It has been definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my life! I had the opportunity to meet, work with, and learn from beautiful people and of course I had the absolute pleasure to present Arbace on stage. I keep these great memories in my heart.

While the world shut down due the pandemic, Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy found a way to keep its masterclasses, programming, rehearsals and mentorship alive. The program provided me with structure that kept me focused on my vocal development, gave me access to experts in the opera field and culminated in a professional level performance in Crete that was fully-staged with orchestra under the baton of an influential and world-renowned conductor. The experience served as an incredible spring board for next steps in my career and I am truly grateful to have been a part of the program.

I had such an amazing experience on Idomeneo that it was hard to think what else is going to live up to that. Seeing people come out from all over, sing beautifully, most importantly sharing their art with the rest was amazing. Stefanos Koroneos is one of a kind.

My time with Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy exceeded all my expectations - from the quality of the classes to the quality of our final show which was a fully professional production despite the price of this programme being one of the lowests I have come across. Everyone has been supportive but also honest and realistic with their advice to me which I appreciate a lot.

Being a young artist at Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy and Teatro Grattacielo has been a real honor, because Mr. Stefanos Koroneos and his team always work at their very best to provide amazing opportunities to their singers. Being a part of their professional production of Idomeneo will definitely be one of the most unforgettable experiences in my career.

"Thanks to my time under the continued mentorship of the professional singers, conductors and artistic director of the Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy, I am a stronger, more polished and confident singing actress. I deeply appreciate the respectful, [Covid] safe and supportive atmosphere in which all the classes and rehearsals are conducted. Our live performances proceeded successfully and safely and I was able to learn a lot (including a gorgeous role) in a very short time. I call that a huge success!!!"

This program gave a lot of things to me, but I can tell you which one is best because I had good experience on stage from this program. We can’t buy this experience, being on stage. I think it can’t be bought with money and if singers need experience, Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy will give it you!

My experience with Camerata bardi has influenced me with new ideas and possibilities to search for as a professional opera singer. Most importantly, it has given me the confidence to become an actress and a performer and through these qualities to support and find my true singing voice on stage.

One of the greatest highlights for me was getting to collaborate with such talented and wonderful young artists from around the world, to share the stage and some truly unforgetable moments with them. Stefanos Koroneos gave us so much support, feedback and guidance throughout the rehearsal period. Having the chance to debut one of my favourite roles, Adina, in such a high-quality production and under the baton of maestro M. Michailidis was incredibly fulfilling.