Under the leadership of soprano Dawn Upshaw, the Vocal Arts Program offers singers diverse and meaningful performance projects in song, chamber, orchestral, and operatic repertoire. Repertoire may span from as early as the Renaissance to the newest music of today. 

"Only in looking back do I really understand the indispensable nature of the Tanglewood Music Center, which offers an experience unlike any other. One is pushed beyond one's comfort zone, while the faculty is thoughtful of all that goes into the development of young performers — not just vocally and musically, but as artists, colleagues, and humans. This environment enables one to take risks at a level that is new and freeing."

- Elena Villalón, Soprano (TMC '19)

2026 Vocal Program

Opera Project

A highlight of each summer is the opera project with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra (TMCO). The opera project is prepared over multiple weeks of faculty-led rehearsals before the first rehearsals with the TMCO. In 2026, this project will be an evening of scenes from American opera including Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land, with repertoire chosen to suit each Fellow. Other recent opera projects include a performance of Ravel’s L’enfant et les Sortileges in 2025, a night of Mozart opera scenes in 2024, and in 2022 the U.S. premiere of George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence, under the direction of the composer. 

Vocal Concerts and Chamber Music

Fellows perform in vocal concerts featuring music from the central canon and beyond, coached by esteemed faculty members such as Tony Arnold, Will Liverman, Randall Scarlata, and Dawn Upshaw. Each season also includes a concert for small vocal ensembles, allowing Fellows to explore a range of music from Orlando di Lasso to Caroline Shaw. 

Vocal Fellows perform chamber music with the TMC's Instrumental Fellows from standard and contemporary repertoire, coached by the TMC's world-class faculty and presented on concerts in acclaimed venues including the Linde Center for Music and Learning and Seiji Ozawa Hall. 

Studio Classes and Vocal Workshops

The Vocal Arts Program is anchored by twice-weekly studio classes led by faculty member Randall Scarlata. These classes allow Fellows to dig into technique, interpretation, diction, and collaborative skills. Fellows largely create the pace of these classes based on their needs. Topics regularly explored include operatic and oratorio repertoire, song repertoire in all languages, and music from the Great American Songbook. 

Fellows also have opportunities to perform in vocal workshops with resident faculty and major artists visiting the BSO. Recent examples include classes with Stephanie Blythe, Nicole Cabell, William Christie, Renée Fleming, and Erin Morley. Some workshops are private classes, while others are open to the public. 

New Music and Special Projects

The study of contemporary music is a central part of the TMC Vocal Program. Vocal Fellows participate in world-premieres of TMC-commissioned works and performances during the internationally-renowned Festival of Contemporary Music. They also engage in special projects throughout the summer, with recent examples including John Cage's Songbooks, Osvaldo Golijov's Ayre, and explorations of Bach's liturgical music with Harry Christophers and the Sixteen.

Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra

In addition to the opera project, some seasons include special opportunities for Vocal Fellows to perform with the TMC Orchestra, led by TMC Conducting Fellows, guest conductors, or in some cases, Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director Andris Nelsons.