Bard Vocal Arts Alumna Clarissa Lyons Joins Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program

Soprano Clarissa Lyons ’11, alumna of the Bard College Conservatory of Music Graduate Vocal Arts Program (VAP), has been invited to join the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, capping an exciting year in which she was named the Grand Prize Winner at Florida Grand Opera’s Young Patronesses of the Opera Competition and the Glenn & Ginger Flournay Award Winner at Shreveport Opera’s Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year Competition. In January, Lyons participated in The Song Continues series at Carnegie Hall, where she performed in a master class led by Warren Jones. She will return to Carnegie Hall in January 2016 to present a Spotlight Recital in Weill Hall as part of The Song Continues series alongside tenor Miles Mykkanen and pianist Ken Noda.

The Lindemann Young Artist Development Program was created in 1980 by Maestro James Levine, music director of The Metropolitan Opera, to identify and develop extraordinarily talented young artists in the realm of opera. Program participants draw upon the vast pool of world-renowned talent available at the Met, including current and former Met artists, internationally recognized coaches and master teachers, and staff from the Metropolitan Opera’s music and artistic departments. The young artists have access to daily rehearsals and practice sessions, where they can observe opera’s great singers preparing their roles for the current Met repertory. They are presented with the unparalleled opportunity to perform onstage in Met productions, as many are assigned supporting roles and serve as covers for featured singers.

“This is a very well-respected, prestigious program,” said Dawn Upshaw, VAP artistic director. “Everyone must be heard and accepted by James Levine before invitation into the program, and it is usually a wonderful stepping-stone for its participants. We are very excited for Clarissa!”

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CAPTION INFO: Soprano Clarissa Lyons ’11, alumna of the Bard College Conservatory of Music Graduate Vocal Arts Program (VAP), has been invited to join the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.
PHOTO CREDIT: Marielle Hayes
About Bard’s Graduate Vocal Arts Program          
The Graduate Vocal Arts Program is a unique master of music program in vocal performance. Conceived, designed, and led by renowned American soprano Dawn Upshaw, the program was created to prepare the young singer to meet the special challenges of pursuing a professional career in music in the 21st century. This two-year master of music degree balances a respect for established repertory and expressive techniques with the flexibility and curiosity needed to keep abreast of evolving musical ideas. Students work on art song, chamber music, new music, and operatic repertoire; operatic repertoire is studied and performed throughout the curriculum and, in alternate years, in a fully staged production at the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. The program also includes a strong practical component, with seminars and classes on career skills led by some of the leading figures in arts management and administration. bard.edu/conservatory/vap/

About the Met’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program
The goal of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, which was founded in 1980 and named after Mr. and Mrs. George Lindemann in recognition and gratitude for their leadership and generous support, is to nurture the most talented young artists through training and performance opportunities.

The Lindemann Young Artist Development Program uses the Met’s unique resources to identify and educate young singers and coach-pianists for major careers in opera. To meet the individual needs of each young artist, the Program provides specialized training in music, language, dramatic coaching, and movement from the Met’s own artistic staff and invited master teachers. Along with an annual stipend for living expenses, the Program also funds private lessons with approved teachers from outside the Met staff. Participants are offered a position with the Program for a period of one year with annual renewal for up to three years for singers and two years for pianists. During this period, the young artists’ engagements in and outside of the Met are at the consent of the artistic and executive directors.

This event was last updated on 09-30-2015

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