<span style="font-weight: 400">Learn more about two summer programs—the Institute of Performing Arts International (IPAI) and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF).
The bridge between the academic and professional worlds for an opera singer can be vast and precarious to traverse. Many talented singers struggle to find their place in paid Young Artist Programs because of the sheer number of exceptional artists coming out of schools across the country. For others, their voices/techniques/linguistic/dramatic abilities need more time to maturate and are not quite an ideal fit for a paid apprenticeship. Pay-to-Sing programs were created with these individuals in mind and offer emerging talent the chance to refine their artistic package through continued lessons, coaching, and performance opportunities. This critical step is a wonderful way for singers to refine their talent as they continue to develop as artists.
I had the chance to connect with Eric Gibson, head of stage direction at the Institute of Performing Arts International (IPAI—located in Bavaria, Germany), and Scott Skiba, assistant artistic director of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF—located on the Big Island) about why their Pay-to-Sing programs are a valuable step in the development of operatic artists.
In addition to his work with IPAI, Gibson is the visiting professor of music and director of Opera Theatre at The Ohio State University and executive director of Opera Project Columbus. Skiba serves as the executive director of Cleveland Opera Theatre, production director of Opera Western Reserve, and acting and movement instructor of Music Across the Pond.
Why is the Institute of Performing Arts International a good program for singers at the beginning of their careers?
Gibson: IPAI provides young singers with the opportunity to work with German coaches, to sing for agents working in opera houses in Munich and Berlin, rigors in the German language daily, and exposure to culture of one of the leading countries producing opera, Germany. International programs offer invaluable knowledge to young singers wanting to make their careers in Europe!
Why is the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival a good program for young singers?
Skiba: Participants receive excellent coaching, music direction, stage direction, and professional quality design and production. It’s a safe and supportive environment to take on a new role challenge and prepare for professional standards through a rigorous schedule of lessons, coachings, rehearsals, and performances. Our faculty is a carefully selected group of outstanding, experienced pedagogues and world-class performers, stage directors, coaches, and teachers.
Participants in each level work with our faculty to develop transferable skills that will help them in the next steps of their career. They’ll also take with them an unforgettable experience on the Big Island of Hawaii, one of the most breathtakingly beautiful and inspiring locations on the planet!
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What is a typical day like for an artist in residence at the Hawaii Performing Artist Festival?
Skiba: Our headquarters are based at Hawaii Preparatory Academy, a world-class boarding school located in the beautiful town of Waimea. We work on a block schedule in which the day is split up typically like this…
In the morning, local native Hawaiian teaching artists teach Hawaiian Cultural classes. Participants learn about Hawaiian art and culture, the meaning of Aloha and how to live that in our art making and in our everyday lives, beginner Hula and storytelling through movement, and lei making. A total of four Hawaiian cultural classes are taught throughout the artists’ three-week stay.
Then students have their lessons and coachings and lunch, followed by masterclasses, staging rehearsals, and then more lessons and coachings, a dinner break, and evening staging rehearsals.
On concert or production performance days, the schedule varies a bit with fewer evening activities. Some days swap the order and staging rehearsals are scheduled earlier in the day and lessons/coachings later in the day.
And at the Institute of Performing Arts International?
Gibson: 8:00 a.m. breakfast; 8:30 a.m. acting; 9:15 a.m. dance; 10:00 a.m. masterclass or group rehearsal; 11:30 a.m. lunch; 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. individual coachings, voice lessons, rehearsals with a pianist, practice time, mentoring sessions (or, if time permits, some people like to cool down with a dip in the river that runs through the town); 4:00 p.m. a break for coffee, wine, or rest; 5:00 p.m. dinner; 6:00 p.m. rehearsals, masterclasses, or trips to see opera in Erl, Austria, or Munich.
In what ways does the IPAI prepare artists for the next step, whether that be stepping a paid Young Artist Program, obtaining an agent, or gaining mainstage work?
Gibson: Some of the major goals of our program are to introduce our singers to agents, allow them to sing for several leaders in German opera houses through our vocal competition, and have them work with master teachers from throughout Europe in a series of masterclasses.
And what can a singer expect to gain from participating in the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival?
Skiba: HPAF is a festival that blends professional performance with high-level artist training. It has several levels for participants ranging from high school, college/conservatory, up to emerging professional artists. Each level is tailored to meet each individual where they are on their journey to strengthen the skills they have and to help them develop their artistry and skills needed for the next level. Participants at all levels work and develop skills in a professional environment.
The faculty and staff are award-winning professional artists at the height of their craft with many national and international awards to their credit. The faculty are also a group of wonderful human beings who care about each individual participant and are focused on the growth and development of each participant. Not all professional, fellow, and tuition-based training programs offer the same excellent level to participants. At HPAF, there is a professional orchestra conducted by leading conductors in the industry, stage directors are among the top professionals in the field, and the scenic, lighting, and costume design are professional quality and award winning.
All participants will make valuable network connections, receive career advice (appropriate to their level of development), learn audition techniques/best practices, and gain invaluable performance experience that will help them succeed at the next level and beyond.
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As faculty members, what is it that you’re hoping to impart to the singers who participate in these programs?
Gibson: After they attend the IPAI, my hope is they develop a love of the art form and a sense that fulfilling operatic and arts careers are less about singing in only A-houses…there are wonderful opportunities all over the world at all sorts of levels. Success is how you define it!
Skiba: Joy, imagination, and the freedom and courage to explore, create, and collaborate boldly and without inhibition. A safe and reliable process through which singing actors develop specific definition, interpretation, and communication of text and music that is authentic to the work and to the self. To become more dynamic communicators onstage through movement, music, and text learning, and to use the whole-body instrument to maximize physical and vocal characterization.
To apply for HPAF, singers can submit via video through the YAP Tracker website. Priority deadline was December 1st, but singers can apply up to February 1st. There is no fee to apply. Applying earlier is better as those applications receive priority in casting, scholarships, and fellowships. Repertoire requirements for opera artists include two contrasting musical selections, one being in English. Artists wanting to be cast in the mainstage productions are encouraged to sing music from the upcoming season: The Marriage of Figaro and A Little Night Music. For more information, go to www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org/developing-singer. Specific questions may be directed to Artistic Administrator Shayna Leahy at sleahy@hawaiipaf.org.
Live auditions were held for IPAI in various U.S. cities in the fall, but singers may also apply via video audition. The deadline for submission of videos and the online application is April 30, 2025. All information about applying, including audition repertoire requirements, can be found at www.ipaibavaria.com/apply-de.
