Celebrate 15 years of Classic Lyric Arts at the 2024 CLA Benefit Gala! CLA friends, supporters, alumni, and recent artists will gather for an evening of community and artistry supporting the bright future of opera and song.

The gala will include a welcoming cocktail hour at 6pm, a concert program featuring the CLA Vocal Academy Resident Artists and 2024 CLA Summer Program Artists at 7pm, and a reception to follow.

If you are interested in attending or supporting the 2024 CLA Benefit Gala, please contact CLA Development Manager, Maia Sumanaweera at maiasumanaweera@classiclyricarts.org.

The 2024/2025 CLA Vocal Academy will officially launch on September 16, 2024. Building off the success of the Spring 2024 Pilot, this year-long iteration will offer 22 weeks of robust and personalized training for six of CLA’s most promising emerging alumni.

The CLA Vocal Academy is a customized training and performance experience for emerging opera artists to launch their professional careers. The 2024/2025 roster will include six emerging artists who are alumni of CLA’s Summer Programs. These Resident Artists possess the talent to launch major international opera careers, and the CLA faculty will guide them in realizing their full professional potential.

The CLA Vocal Academy Resident Artists will be featured in the upcoming season of CLA concerts in and around New York City, including the 2024 Benefit Gala.

Join us at a CLA debut concert venue for an evening of French opera and chanson. We invite you to meet the CLA France 2024 Artists and enjoy light refreshments following this exciting concert.

June 16 from 16,00h-17,30h

About the Venue

The Église de St. Jacques, Bergerac is a historic Medieval chapel built in 1088. It was expanded in the early 1600’s as it became a larger attraction on pilgrimage routes. Today, Bergerac is a major city in France with modern and historic significance. CLA is excited to bring the 2024 France Artists to such a lavish and well attended concert venue for a grand evening of opera.

Learn more about the venue here.

Classic Lyric Arts presents its first performance at New York's Merkin Hall on March 6, celebrating the past, present, and future of training emerging operatic artists in France, Italy, and the US for 15 years.

CLA’s finest former artists will perform alongside the most promising singers of today and tomorrow! In addition to excerpts from French opéra, Italian bel canto, and Mozart's masterworks all directed by CLA faculty member, Daniel Isengart, this concert features the US premiere of Le Parole dei Mesi, created for CLA by faculty member Raphael Fusco.

CLA is honored to feature some of today's brightest opera stars, including internationally renowned soprano, Nadine Sierra and tenor, SeokJong Baek at its largest concert to date, providing an invaluable opportunity for CLA Artists and an unforgettable experience for the audience!

Join Classic Lyric Arts to celebrate the music of language and a new generation in opera.

About the Venue

Merkin Hall is named in honor of Hermann and Ursula Merkin, and is part of the Kaufman Music Center. It was originally opened in 1978 as The Hebrew Arts School’s Abraham Goodman House and came to distinguish itself as an important venue in New York City.

Celebrate 14 years of Classic Lyric Arts at the 2024 CLA Benefit Gala! CLA friends, supporters, alumni, and recent artists will gather for an evening of community and artistry supporting the bright future of opera and song.

The gala will include a welcoming cocktail hour at 6pm, a concert program featuring the 2023 CLA Summer Program Artists at 7pm, and a reception to follow.

If you are interested in attending or supporting the 2024 CLA Benefit Gala, please contact CLA Development Manager, Maia Sumanaweera at maiasumanaweera@classiclyricarts.org.