Successful singers are essentially vocal athletes.
They spend hours upon hours of training to ensure their voices can be heard over the sound of orchestras and other large groups of instruments. It takes more than a set of great singing chops to make it in the classical voice performance industry.
The many hours of training take place over years of study; after all, spending too much time singing per day can cause injuries to the vocal cords and other body parts related to singing.
Learning how to strike a balance is essential to excelling in a collegiate voice program.
Opera is a significant niche within the classical voice umbrella. Students can focus on song, concert, and choral repertoire.
Most opera singers must be proficient in multiple languages. In addition to English, students perform operas written in German, Italian, French, Spanish, and Russian.
Several excellent colleges and universities in the United States offer degrees in vocal studies.
For this list, we are only choosing degree-granting schools with strong undergraduate programs in the US, so some programs, such as the excellent Academy of Vocal Arts, are not included here.
Here are our picks for 10 of the best opera & classical voice performance colleges for music in the US.
Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia, PA)
Students attending the Curtis Institute of Music are privileged to study under the guidance of teachers like Professor Eric Owens, who has performed leading roles at the Los Angeles Opera, Covent Garden, and the San Francisco Opera.
The Curtis Institute enrolls no more than 150 students at a time, and undergraduates also enjoy small class sizes and frequent opportunities to perform as part of Curtis Opera Theater productions.
Undergraduate studies courses include coaching in diction, the Alexander Technique, and a weekly Voice Performance Seminar.
The admissions process is competitive, requiring vocalists to select three repertoire pieces: one in English, one aria, and one choice from German Lieder, French, or Italian songs.
Curtis students can expect generous financial support from the Institute – all admitted students since 1928 have received full merit-based scholarships covering all tuition costs and leave the Institute debt-free!
Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY)
Eastman voice alumni are making a big name for themselves in the performing arts industry!
Denyce Graves performed alumnus Gene Scheer’s American Anthem at Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s memorial service, and President Joe Biden quoted part of the text in his Inaugural Address.
Behind a thriving alumni network is a foundation of expert faculty. Eastman employs seven full-time studio teachers who offer professional vocal coaching services in addition to their standard course offerings.
First-year and sophomore students receive seven half-hour coaching sessions each semester, while juniors, seniors, M.M., and D.M.A. (masters and doctoral) students receive seven 45-minute sessions each semester.
In addition to one-on-one voice coaching sessions, each voice major benefits from an hour-long weekly studio lesson.
Students focus on developmental exercises, vocal techniques, and collaboration with pianists during this time, among other strategies and routines. Most voice students also participate in one of four choral groups, such as the selective Eastman Chorale.
The Friends of the Eastman Opera is a long-standing support group for Eastman opera students. The organization frequently awards grants for travel costs for students’ out-of-town auditions, master class attendance, and competitions.
University of Southern California Thornton School of Music (Los Angeles, CA)
USC offers a B.M. in Vocal Arts Performance that blends one-on-one instruction, acting lessons, diction, aural instruction, and other skills. The Opera Program is one of the nation’s best-known training colleges for opera singers, and students have regular opportunities to attend master classes led by global opera phenoms.
Those hoping to audition for school productions must be enrolled in a USC degree program and prepare at least three arias, art songs, or musical theatre pieces.
Auditions take place in August of each year – while sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students receive invitations to audition, first-year students will need permission from their Voice Teacher.
Performances often feature a theme of social consciousness, which USC has named as a top priority across all its departments.
One of the school’s most recent student productions – All the Truths We Cannot See: A Chernobyl Story – narrated the tale of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. The performance spoke to how humans can prevent such deadly events from recurring.
Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
Graduates of the Peabody Conservatory move on to perform in renowned opera houses in metropolitan areas like Zurich, Vienna, Berlin, and New York City.
Many faculty members have maintained enduring careers as soloists, such as Professor Elizabeth Futral (one of the most sought-after sopranos in the world).
Peabody makes a concerted effort to attract young talent. Its Voice Performance Academy (VPA) unites talented adolescent singers through its intimate program, which takes place monthly during the academic year.
Once enrolled at Peabody, undergraduate vocal studies students go through intense weekly studio repertoire and performance classes.
They also enjoy countless opportunities to perform on- and off-campus in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area.
Opera in Action is one of the most exciting courses within the curriculum.
Here, students discuss who gets to make and experience opera, a genre with a history of elitism and public inaccessibility. Students produce a short opera performance to convey what they have learned.
New England Conservatory of Music (Boston, MA)
The NEC is best known for its numerous collaborations. The Community Performances and Partnerships Program (CPP) organizes over 600 annual performance opportunities for current Conservatory students at schools, hospitals, senior centers, museums, and other important sites throughout Boston and New England.
The Harvard/NEC dual degree program is a unique offering that includes a BA degree from Harvard with a fifth-year graduate experience at NEC that results in an M.M. degree.
Not surprisingly, the program is reserved for a limited number of students each year.
All undergraduates enroll in Entrepreneurial Musicianship – typically in their junior year of study – to begin developing a professional portfolio, marketing toolboxes, and professional networks.
They also access grants, internships, and performance opportunities through the course’s department.
Several staff within the department have earned Grammy Awards, such as soprano Jane Eaglen and countertenor Ian Howell.
Eaglen won a Grammy for her recording of Wagner’s Tannhäuser, while Howell’s Grammy was awarded for his performance as a member of the Chanticleer ensemble.
Northwestern University Bienen School of Music (Evanston, IL)
The Bienen School of Music’s most recent voice studies alumni are making headlines for winning auditions at the Metropolitan Opera National Council and grants offered via the Richard Tucker Foundation.
Much of their success is likely attributed to ample performance opportunities at Northwestern. Each year, voice students are invited to try out for Bienen’s three opera productions.
There are many benefits to enrolling in Northwestern’s Voice and Opera Program.
All students receive weekly vocal instruction, attend master classes, and are eligible to pursue dual degrees or declare ad-hoc majors.
All doctoral students receive a scholarship that covers their full tuition, in addition to health insurance and a stipend for living expenses.
To audition, candidates complete a video prescreening and final audition, if advanced. They must memorize four pieces in one of each of the following languages: English, Italian, French or German, and an additional language of their choosing.
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Cincinnati, OH)
Cincinnati’s Departments of Opera and Voice offers one of the country’s great opera and vocal training programs.
Seven American opera companies hold auditions on-site at the Conservatory, and students benefit from abundant stage exposure through two full-length opera productions at the Corbett Auditorium and the Patricia Corbett Theater.
The B.M. program stipulates that seniors spend six hours each week in an Opera Workshop, where they dedicate time to preparing for auditions.
The Conservatory also hosts an Artist Diploma for Singers, which helps 12 talented singers prepare to perform in four significant roles in full-length productions.
Opera Fusion is one exciting partnership between CCM and the Cincinnati Opera – composers get to participate in a 10-day Cincinnati residency where they get to workshop an opera. These productions are cast and led by CCM students and other professional artists.
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomington, IN)
Students at the Jacobs School of Music study under the guidance of acclaimed vocalists like Marietta Simpson (Distinguished Rudy Professor of Music in Voice) and Dr. Brian Horne.
Horne has served as a master teacher for the National Association for Teachers of Singing Intern Program and won various singing competitions, including the Cardiff Singer of the World.
Indiana University voice majors can perform in five full-length operas and one musical per academic year. These experiences prepare them to excel in performances in some of the world’s most illustrious opera houses.
The Opera and Ballet Theater at Indiana University has launched the careers of many alumni who now perform at the Metropolitan Opera and other nationally acclaimed venues.
Graduates also frequently accept teaching positions at esteemed colleges and universities.
In addition to the B.M. in Voice program, the university also offers a Graduate Certificate in Vocology.
This program is designed for existing voice teachers and vocalists who wish to deepen their knowledge of singing.
Applicants must already possess an M.M. degree in Voice Performance or Pedagogy or currently be in pursuit of such a degree. The program focuses on adopting healthy vocal practices and avoiding behaviors that might injure one’s voice.
Manhattan School of Music (New York, NY)
MSM students undergo many hours of training and vocal coaching during their studies.
Each classical voice major can enroll for free vocal coaching services as long as they are taking 12 or more academic credits.
These hours are in addition to ten half-hour sessions of private departmental coaching per semester (as first-year students) and ten hour-long sessions for sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
All voice students are required to participate in at least one ensemble. They can choose from eight chorus, theatre, and opera ensembles like the Symphonic Chorus or the Contemporary Opera Ensemble.
Graduating students can participate in the Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition or the Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition in the spring and winter (respectively).
These opportunities often serve as launchpads into lucrative singing careers.
Recent alumni success stories include mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, who was featured in NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, and Le Bu, who won the Met Opera’s Laffont Competition.
Mannes School of Music (New York, NY)
What better place to begin a singing career than New York City?
In addition to its proximity to notable concert and performance venues, Mannes connects students to highly-trained faculty members like Professor Laquita Mitchell, the first American to win the Wiener Kammer Oper’s Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition in over two years!
The B.M. in Voice program prepares students for career opportunities in traditional, entrepreneurial, and interdisciplinary contexts.
Within four years of study, undergraduates take courses in music theory, ear training, and piano lessons while receiving one-on-one lessons.
They participate in ensembles of various sizes and choose electives in other fields of interest.
The Mannes Opera trains students to grow into professional artists who exercise agency of their voices, brands, and schedules.
Students receive coaching in American, Spanish, and Russian art song as well as the Italian aria, the French chanson, and the German Lieder.
They also have the opportunity to participate in various traditional and contemporary performances. Most recently, the Mannes Opera produced Philip Glass’ The Fall of the House of Usher and Robert Ashley’s Dust.
Rice University Shepherd School of Music (Houston, TX)
Few vocal study programs exceed the Shepherd School of Music’s caliber.
There’s no better time than now to apply to Rice, as the school just completed construction of the Brockman Hall for Opera.
The space offers top-notch performance spaces for chamber and opera music, and the acoustics are state-of-the-art.
At Rice, voice students will learn from knowledgeable faculty members such as Grammy Award-winning performer Ana María Martínez, one of the most sought-after sopranos of her generation.
On-campus sessions – part of the Aleko Masterclass/Recital Series – feature leading experts such as Tony Award-winning soprano Renée Fleming, who has performed with Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, Paul Simon, and Sting.
Houston, Texas boasts a burgeoning music scene where students can enjoy live performances and audition for singing roles.
Within the past year, the city was named the #1 Most Diverse City in America – a promising ranking for a music niche that has historically marginalized performers from diverse backgrounds.
