Academy of Vocal Arts

The Academy of Vocal Arts is a school dedicated to providing free higher education to aspiring opera singers. The school was founded in 1934 by Helen Corning Warden and is located at 1920 Spruce Street in Philadelphia, PA.

History

During the Great Depression, few people could afford any kind of higher education, especially the long and costly training needed for a career in opera. Recognizing this difficulty, Helen Corning Warden, a prominent member of Philadelphia society, set out to establish a school where talented singers could receive highest quality training without having to suffer the financial burdens that such an education would normally entail. Encouraged by voice teacher Edgar Milton Cooke, Mrs. Warden and a group of her friends set out to establish a school for professional singers that would provide tuition-free education.

For more than six decades, gifted singers have come from throughout the world to seek the exceptional guidance and training that the Academy of Vocal Arts offers. Many current and former teachers, such as Nell Rankin, have had highly successful opera careers. Notable alumni of the school include: Joyce DiDonato and Ruth Ann Swenson among others. Admission into AVA's four-year program is highly competitive, with approximately 30 singers enrolled in any given year. Today, AVA is the only tuition-free institution dedicated exclusively to the study of voice.

Helen Corning Warden served as the Academy's chairperson until her death. She was succeeded by her daughter, Adele Warden Paxson, who was followed by her daughter, Sally Paxson Davis. [1]

External links

• official website