Performing is the central means of artistic self-discovery in the Vocal Arts Program. Most of the classes require weekly in-class participation at a performance level and culminate in public concerts. Throughout the course of the program, each singer is offered opportunities to perform works drawn from the song, oratorio, and operatic repertoires. Singers work in collaboration with pianists, instrumentalists, and orchestra—in recital, oratorio, and fully-staged operatic productions. The Vocal Arts Program curriculum connects the young singer with a larger artistic world through frequent performances in the surrounding area and New York City.
Performance Opportunities
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Opera ProductionRecognizing the importance of role study and performance of operas, the Bard opera experience focuses on the creative community and embraces the individual spirit and talents of each student. This process recognizes the importance of foundational and historical study, while encouraging artists to approach performance and production in fresh, innovative and thoughtful ways, allowing artists to take musical and dramatic risks.Opera Production
Recognizing the importance of role study and performance of operas, the Bard opera experience focuses on the creative community and embraces the individual spirit and talents of each student. This process recognizes the importance of foundational and historical study, while encouraging artists to approach performance and production in fresh, innovative and thoughtful ways, allowing artists to take musical and dramatic risks.
Offenbach: Orfée aux Enfers
Janáček: The Cunning Little Vixen
Double Bill: The Medium and Seven Deadly Sins
Rest in Pieces: In Memory of Opera, a devised opera
Triple Bill: Pulcinella, A Full Moon in March, and Svadba
Bernstein: Candide
Double Bill: Higgelty, Piggelty, Pop! and The Magic Flute: Redux
Double Bill: The Turn of the Screw and Payne Hollow -
Photo by Aya Rebai ’24Opera WorkshopIn addition to complete opera productions, all students participate in Opera Workshop during the fall semester of each year, culminating in a fully-staged performance with piano. In conjunction with the Core Seminar I curriculum, the course focuses on German and French opera scenes. In the spring semester of every other year, all students study and prepare scenes from Mozart and Handel operas.
Opera Workshop
In addition to complete opera productions, all students participate in Opera Workshop during the fall semester of each year, culminating in a fully-staged performance with piano. In conjunction with the Core Seminar I curriculum, the course focuses on German and French opera scenes. In the spring semester of every other year, all students study and prepare scenes from Mozart and Handel operas.
Donizetti: La fille du régiment
Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande
R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier
J. Strauss: Die Fledermaus
Massenet: Werther
Massenet: Cendrillon -
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Concert Work with OrchestraStudents in the Vocal Arts Program have multiple opportunities throughout their studies to perform concert works with both the Bard Conservatory Orchestra and The Orchestra Now. The Vocal Arts Program also regularly collaborates with the Bard Baroque Ensemble, led by organist Renée Ann Louprette, for performances of full Bach cantatas and other Baroque works.
Concert Work with Orchestra
Students in the Vocal Arts Program have multiple opportunities throughout their studies to perform concert works with both the Bard Conservatory Orchestra and The Orchestra Now. The Vocal Arts Program also regularly collaborates with the Bard Baroque Ensemble, led by organist Renée Ann Louprette, for performances of full Bach cantatas and other Baroque works.
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Mahler: Symphony No. 2
Bach: St. John Passion
Handel: Messiah
Vivaldi: Gloria
Mozart: Requiem
Haydn: Die Schöpfung
Finzi: Et in terra pax -
Photo by Liam Brosh ’25Recital WorkAnother central form of artistic discovery in the Vocal Arts Program is recital performance. Each semester, singers are paired with a Collaborative Piano Fellow, giving students the opportunity to learn how to form meaningful artistic partnerships. By performing recitals at Bard, throughout the Hudson Valley and in New York City, students are encouraged to find their own unique, expressive voice.Recital Work
Another central form of artistic discovery in the Vocal Arts Program is recital performance. Each semester, singers are paired with a Collaborative Piano Fellow, giving students the opportunity to learn how to form meaningful artistic partnerships. By performing recitals at Bard, throughout the Hudson Valley and in New York City, students are encouraged to find their own unique, expressive voice.
In Diction and Phonetics Workshop, students perform a public concert at Beattie-Powers Place in Hudson, New York, in conjunction with Core Seminar I: Poetry Into Song. Core Seminar II: First Songs explores the music of established, living composers. As part of the course, students perform premieres of these pieces in Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City. Finally, during Core Seminar III: Creating Unique Performance Opportunities second-year students are put in groups, in which they prepare and perform recitals off of Bard’s campus. Every aspect of the creation of the recital is coordinated by the students themselves, allowing them to develop their entrepreneurial and artistic skills. Information about recent projects for Core Seminar III may be found here.
At the culmination of their time at Bard, each student presents a degree recital, which is carefully prepared throughout the second semester of their second year in Recital Class. Through weekly musical presentations and class discussion, along with an exploration of research materials, this class provides a forum for an in-depth exploration of the repertoire programmed on the degree recital. The degree recital also enables students to create unique and personal interpretations of their selected works. -
VAP Students & Alumni following a performance with Concerts in the VillageBard Music ConnectsBard Music Connects fosters relationships with local communities by presenting outreach performances and participating in engagement events. Students of the Bard Conservatory undergraduate and graduate programs have the opportunity to experience, first-hand, the deep and healthful benefits of musical communication. Partnerships with local professional ensembles such as the Albany Symphony and Kinderhook Concerts in the Village, care and educational institutions including Northern Dutchess Hospital, underserved communities, and civic organizations. These opportunities train participants to meet the specific needs of a variety of audiences and to engage in public service with the musical skills they hone at Bard.
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Bard Vocal Arts on Stage
View some of our past performances.