The Verbier Festival Academy’s Atelier Lyrique is unique among voice programmes by offering the study of both opera roles and song repertoire in a supportive and inspiring setting as well as the opportunity to perform as part of a renowned international festival. Alumni of the Atelier Lyrique are among some of today’s most sought after young singers.
with generous support from
Fondation Juchum
Atelier Lyrique singers are offered vocal, language and stagecraft coaching in opera and song through private sessions and public masterclasses.
opera
All Atelier Lyrique singers are invited to perform in a public recital of arias and opera scenes during the first week of the Verbier Festival. Singers who are selected for a role in the Atelier’s featured opera — Verdi’s Falstaff in 2024 — will perform in a semi-staged production of the work in collaboration with the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra and its music director, James Gaffigan, on the Festival’s final weekend. A select few singers are often cast in supporting roles for the Verbier Festival’s Mainstage opera and are coached in preparation for these roles.
song
Singers can expect to work through six to eight songs in masterclasses and will have the opportunity to work on additional repertoire in private coaching sessions. Repertoire choice is free, although students are encouraged to bring a variety of songs in different languages and styles, including groups of songs in German, English (British and American) and French, as well as repertoire in other languages of their choice. Singers will perform in two recitals as part of the Festival’s afternoon Mainstage programme, one for voice and piano and another in collaboration with chamber musicians from the Academy’s Soloists & Ensembles Programme. Singers are also regularly recruited for creative cabaret projects produced by UNLTD, the Festival’s creative laboratory.
programme dates
14 July – 5 August 2024
includes arrival and departure dates
eligibility
Age & Nationality
Singers of all nationalities between the ages of 20 and 32 as of 1 July 2024 may apply.
costs for successful candidates
All musicians accepted to the Atelier Lyrique receive a tuition scholarship, complimentary housing in Verbier (hosted in with a family or independent living), daily lunch and Festival tickets (subject to availability). Singers are responsible for the cost of travel to and from Verbier and the cost of all other meals and spending money.
apply
Applications Open: 5 September 2023
Deadline: 3 November 2023
Application Fee: USD 50
Please note: Applicants of Russian or Ukrainian nationality are eligible for an application fee waiver thanks to the generosity of donors to the Festival. To obtain a fee waiver, please email a scan of your passport proving your nationality to academy@verbierfestival.com.
| guidelines | apply |
masterclasses
Academy masterclasses are open to the public at no charge. Only singers accepted to the Academy’s Atelier Lyrique perform during these classes. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when the 2024 masterclass schedule is published. All classes are led in English.
mentors
James Baillieu Head, Song
Tim Carroll
Caroline Dowdle Head, Opera
Barbara Frittoli
James Gaffigan
James Garnon
Ken Noda
Thomas Quasthoff
Golda Schultz
More 2024 mentors will be announced soon.
alumni mentors
In its quest for excellence, the Academy has developed collaborations with some of the greatest mentors and coaches. Returning 2024 mentors are marked with an asterisk.
Thomas Allen
Emma Abbate
Theo Adam
James Baillieu*
Barbara Bonney
Tim Carroll*
Diego Cossu
Lise Davidsen
Claudio Desderi
Caroline Dowdle*
Gian-Carlo del Monaco
Dan Ettinger
Brigitte Fassbaender
Renée Fleming
Barbara Frittoli*
James Gaffigan*
James Garnon*
Véronique Gens
Hàkan Hagegàrd
Thomas Hampson
Gundula Janowitz
Stanislav Kochanovsky
Yannis Kokkos
Jonathan Miller
Alexandre Naoumenko
Ken Noda*
Elena Pankratova
Dimitri Platanias
Franziska Roth
Thomas Quasthoff*
Peter Schreier
Andreï Serban
Neil Shicoff
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Anna Tomowa-Sintow
Roger Vignoles
Anne Sofie von Otter
Susannah Waters
