The Festival Opera has announced the launch of its first Resident Artist Program, a comprehensive, season-long professional development initiative designed to support emerging opera singers at a pivotal stage in their careers.

The program will provide paid performance opportunities, individualized training and vocal coaching and an array of practical business/marketing classes to help artists in their post academic training achieve a sustainable professional life in the opera industry.

The inaugural resident artists will be five singers chosen from national applications. They are soprano Marielle Leiboff; soprano Rachel Nelson; mezzo-soprano Phoebe Dinga; tenor Spencer Greene; and baritone Liam Daley.

Conceived by Festival Opera General Director Zachary Gordin, the Resident Artist Program will offer the singers unique performance opportunities with casing in principal, supporting, and/or cover role assignments in all company presentations of mainstage operas.

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