Marc Verzatt and Aza Sydykov are set to join forces to create the “Azatt Sessions,” a regular series of masterclasses and workshops for singers presented by the Eurasia Festival in New York City.

Verzatt, a renowned stage director, will work with students on dramatic interpretation and stage comportment while Sydykov, a conductor and pianist, will focus on musical interpretation as well as linguistic correctness.

The event, which will be part of the Eurasia Festival, will also allow the students to perform at a ticketed public event that will be recorded and photographed professionally.

Verzatt has directed productions all around the world with such companies as the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Houston Grand Opera, the Florida Grand Opera, and the opera companies of Fort Worth, Lake George, Madison, Arizona, Toledo, Atlanta, Kansas City, Baltimore, Idaho, and Mississippi. He has also served on the faculty of such institutions as the Mannes School of Music and Yale University.

Sydyzkov is co-founder and Artistic Director of the Wilmington Music Festival and serves as President of the Kyrgyz American Foundation in New York City. He has collaborated with numerous world-renowned artists and teachers, including Plácido Domingo, Christine Weidinger, Joyce DiDonato, Zurab Sotkilava, Mikhail Svetlev, Arthur Levy, Trish McCaffrey, Mark Schnaible, Beth Roberts, and Robert White.