SETTING THE SCENE
What distinguishes AVA’s training is the opportunity to perform fully staged operas.
Performance is where the hours of training come to life. On stage, Resident Artists sustain roles across multiple performances and work alongside renowned guest conductors and directors. Each production moves at a professional pace. Rehearsals, staging, orchestra sessions, costumes, and performances unfold under the same expectations artists will encounter in their careers. This immersion is what makes the experience formative. Singers build and strengthen the connection between technique and expression that opera demands with each production. By the time Resident Artists leave AVA, they carry a deeper trust in their voice, experience performing, strengthened preparation skills, and a foundation for a lifelong opera career.
“Being surrounded by coaches, each offering a different perspective, has helped me build a voice that can persist and an artistry that continues to grow.”
- Maiya Williams, 1st Year mezzo-soprano
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A RESIDENT ARTIST:
Beautiful Sheriff, 2nd Year soprano — January 2026 schedule
10 am – 11 am: Daily Vocal Warm-up and Practice Time
11 am – 12pm: German Language Class with Amanda Johnston
12 pm – 1 pm: Italian Diction of Giulietta with Ennio Brugnolo
1 pm – 1:45 pm: Lunch Break 1:45 pm – 2:30 pm: Vocal Coaching for Giulietta with Danielle Orlando
2:30 pm – 3 pm: Practice Time
3 pm – 4 pm: Vocal Coaching for Giulietta with Richard Raub
4 pm – 5 pm: Practice Time
Set renderings for Le nozze di Figaro and Capriccio designed by AVA’s Resident Scenic Designer Cameron Anderson.
Costume designs for Il Capuleti e i Montecchi and Falstaff by AVA’s Resident Costume Designer, Kim Welborn
RESIDENT ARTIST ACCOMPLISHMENTS
RISING STARS: COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS
ANNA THOMPSON, 1st Year soprano
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition – Winner
Dallas Opera National Vocal Competition – Third Place
George and Nora London Foundation Competition – Winner
2025 Sullivan Award – Winner
2025 Mario Lanza Institute Scholarship – Third Place
Gerda Lissner Foundation’s 2026 International Vocal Competition – Top Prize Winner
KATHERINE DOBBS, 2nd Year mezzo-soprano
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition –Winner (Philadelphia District), Third Place (MidAtlantic Region)
JULIANNA SMITH, 2nd Year mezzo-soprano
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition –Winner (Maryland District), Winner (Mid-Atlantic Region), Semi-Finalist (National)
Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition –Encouragement Award
MAIYA WILLIAMS, 1st Year mezzo-soprano
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition –Encouragement Award (Philadelphia District)
George and Nora London Foundation Competition –Encouragement Award
ALLA YAROSH, 4th Year mezzo-soprano
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition – Winner (Philadelphia District), Second Place (Mid-Atlantic Region)
Giargiari Bel Canto Competition – First Place and Audience Choice
2025 Mario Lanza Institute Scholarship – First Place
JOSHUA BERG, 3rd Year tenor
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition –Winner (Maryland District)
MATTHEW SINK, 1st Year tenor
Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition – Second Place
George and Nora London Foundation Competition –Encouragement Award
JACOB HANES, 2nd Year baritone
2025 Mario Lanza Institute Scholarship – Second Place
GEOFFREY SCHMELZER, 3rd Year baritone
Giargiari Bel Canto Competition – Third Place
NAN WANG, 3rd Year bass-baritone
Giargiari Bel Canto Competition – Second Place
CUMHUR GÖRGÜN, 4th Year bass
Luciano Pavarotti Opera Naples International Vocal Competition – First Place
MIOpera Competition – First Place
RAÚL MORALES VELAZCO, 2nd Year bass
American Institute of Musical Studies Meistersinger Competition – First Place
SUMMER SPOTLIGHT: RESIDENT ARTISTS AT WORK INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS:
Funded by AVA’s Ken and Diane Ahl Italian Studies Fund
Jasmine Ismail, 1st Year soprano - Language International Italian Studies Program in Como, Italy
Daniela Machado, 2nd Year soprano - Centro Linguistico Italiano Dante Alighieri
Jacob Hanes, 2nd Year baritone - La Lingua Vita Language School in Todi, Italy
Julianna Smith, 2nd Year mezzo-sopranoUniversität Wien Sprachenzentrum
Joshua Berg, 3rd Year tenor - Salzburger Festspiele
Geoffrey Schmelzer, 3rd Year baritone - Classic
Lyric Arts France Program
NATIONAL PERFORMANCES + YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS:
Wolf Trap Opera Filene Artist
Cumhur Görgün, 4th Year bass
Merola Opera Program
Katherine Dobbs, 2nd Year mezzo-soprano
Cole McIlquham, 2nd Year tenor
Raúl Morales Velazco, 2nd Year bass
Matthew Sink, 1st Year tenor
Anna Thompson, 1st Year soprano
Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist Program
Daniela Machado, 2nd Year soprano
Opera Neo
Julianna Smith, 2nd Year mezzo-soprano
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program for Singers
Joshua Klein, 2nd Year baritone
Sergio Mandujano, 1st Year tenor
Opera Saratoga Young Artists Program
Maiya Williams, 1st Year mezzo-soprano
The Princeton Festival
Jacob Hanes, 2nd Year baritone
Nan Wang, 3rd Year bass-baritone
Opera North Resident Artist Program
Veronica Richer, 3rd Year soprano
Luke Housner Summer Opera Workshop
Ryan Wornall, 1st Year bass
Dolora Zajick’s Institute for Young Dramatic Voices
Ryan Wornall, 1st Year bass
Music Academy of the West
Geoffrey Schmelzer, 3rd Year baritone
Maiya Williams, 1st Year mezzo-soprano
Dawson Franzino, 1st Year mezzo-soprano
YOU MAKE AVA HAPPEN
100% tuition-free training
$100,000 supports one Resident Artist for one year
60
HUNDREDS of hours of individualized coaching per artist % %
50 annual budget comes from you of donors deepened their support this year
Your generosity fuels the training and career-changing opportunities that define the Resident Artist experience.
AVA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Harold F. (Rick) Pitcairn II
Chairman of the Board
Susan E. Kane
Vice Chair & Treasurer
Neal W. Krouse
Vice Chair & Secretary
B.A. (Mackie) MacLean, Jr. Chairman Emeritus
Dr. Diane Cole Ahl
R. Randolph Apgar
Barbara Donnelly Bentivoglio
Judith Broudy
Alice Chase
Kristin Davidson
Dr. Julie Fairman
Lily Ferry
Scott Hickman
I. Gail Howard
Eric L. Hume, MD
Dr. Richard B. Kent
Rochelle Magarick
Dr. Douglas J. Manion
Marlene F. Milner
Latonia Moore (AVA ’04)
Stephen Parahus
Merle Raab
Suzanne Root, Esq.
Dr. Ruth Ryave
Corey Smith
Walter M. Strine Jr., Esq.
Kha Trinh
Richard L. Troxell II (AVA ’92)
Maria G. Vogiatzi, M.D.
Gordon Wase, Esq.
EMERITUS
Dr. Romeo Abella
Kay Bossone
Peter G. Gould
Martha R. Hurt
Joseph W. McGuire, Esq.
Francis J. Palamara*
P. Jeffrey Warden*
Charlotte H. Watts
*In memoriam
LEADERSHIP
Scott Guzielek
President and Artistic Director
Christofer Macatsoris
Jeannine B. Cowles Music Director Emeritus
STAFF
Administration
Dr. Josh Miller
Dean
José Meléndez
Assistant to the Music Director and Librarian
Kris Sell
Administrative Associate
Finance
Constantina (Dina) Christou, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Eileen Cella
Director of Finance and Business Operations
Amalia Wilson Bookkeeper
Development
Emily Bernard
Development Manager
Chaz T. Martin
Development Events Manager
Monti Cerabino
Advancement Operations
Coordinator and Board Liaison
Marketing
Bill Buddendorf
Director of Patron Engagement and Opera Outreach
Andrew Rohe
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
Production and Facilities
Troy Martin-O’Shia
Production and Facilities Manager
Kel Fleming
Production Stage Manager and Assistant Production Manager
V Hope Costume Shop Supervisor
FACULTY
Voice Instructors
Bill Schuman
Luis Ledesma
Wendy Bryn Harmer
Master Vocal Coaches
David Antony Lofton
Danielle Orlando
Richard A. Raub
Luke Housner
Vocal Coaches
Michael Lewis Matthieu Cognet
Pianists
José Meléndez
Elise Auerbach
Ting Ting Wong
Gabriel Rebolla
Sarah Thune
Assistant Conductor
Robert Kahn
Class Instructors
Ennio Brugnolo
Instructor in Italian
Beth Clayton CMHC MM
Mental Wellness Coach
David Cognetti, M.D.
Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology
– Jefferson University
Charles Conwell
Instructor in Stage Combat
Paul Curran
Instructor in Acting
Amanda Johnston
Instructor in German
Nicole Layseca
Instructor in French
Lisa Lovelace
Instructor in Stage Movement and Dance
Dr. Josh Miller
Professional Development Faculty
Bob Rowland
Instructor in Opera History
Dr. Robert Thayer Sataloff
Instructor in Vocal Health
