Opera for Peace and the Denyce Graves Foundation, in collaboration with Washington National Opera and its Cafritz Young Artists Program, have announced the inaugural U.S. Opera for Peace Academy in Washington, D.C., from Nov. 10 to 17, 2025.

The Academy will bring world-class training and cultural diplomacy to the nation’s capital, with marquee events at the Embassy of France, including a public masterclass on Nov. 10 with Renée Fleming, a public masterclass on Nov. 14 with Denyce Graves, and a gala on Nov. 14.

This full-scholarship program will select exceptional young singers from around the world and develop them as citizen-artists prepared to lead onstage and in their communities. Conceived and led by Opera for Peace co-founder and general director Julia Lagahuzère, the Academy pairs elite mentorship with an access-first approach designed for impact and reach.

Lagahuzère said, “When artists find their true voice, they don’t just create music — they create connection. The Academy is where talent transforms into purpose, and where art begins to serve something greater than itself. Year after year, we’re building a global community of artists who lead not only with their voices, but with their vision and humanity”

Graves added, “Washington made me the artist I am, and it taught me that great singing and great citizenship belong together. With Opera for Peace, we are welcoming the next generation to this city of ideas and institutions—so they can hone their craft, serve their communities, and carry our art form into the future.”

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