Cafritz Young Artists Program

The Cafritz Young Artists of Washington National Opera are young singers and pianists on the verge of international operatic careers. The program provides intensive study with renowned vocal and dramatic coaches and offers voice lessons, language

classes, career guidance and individual coaching and classes with Washington National Opera staff and guest artists. The Cafritz Young Artists also perform in WNO productions and create new roles in WNO’s new works program, the American Opera Initiative.

In addition to many performances throughout the season, Cafritz Young Artists have had performance opportunities at the White House, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, the United States Senate,

the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the Mexican Cultural Institute, the Music Center at Strathmore, in performances with the Baltimore and National Symphony Orchestras and at numerous embassies.

Each season, the Cafritz Young Artists sing a fully staged performance with orchestra as part of the WNO season. Past productions have included La traviata, The Marriage of Figaro, Madama Butterfly, Così fan tutte, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, La bohème,

Alcina and Carmen. Cafritz Young Artists have performed under the baton of such

luminaries as Robert Spano, Speranza Scappucci, Jane Glover and Gianandrea

Noseda.

Cafritz Young Artists of Washington National Opera graduates have gone on to successful careers including performances with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, LA Opera, New York City Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, National Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, Bayreuth Festival, Glyndebourne Festival, Vienna State Opera, Berlin State Opera, Teatro Real in Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London and Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

Cafritz Young Artists Leadership

• Christopher Cano, Director, Cafritz Young Artists and American Opera Initiative
• Caitlin Oldham, Assistant Manager of Cafritz Young Artists
• Ken Weiss, Principal Coach

Cafritz Young Artists Faculty

• Heidi Grant Murphy, Soprano
• Elizabeth Bishop, Mezzo Soprano
• Neil Shicoff, Tenor
• Mark Schnaible, Bass-Baritone
• Maddalena Borrea, Italian
• Karma Camp, Movement