With a distinguished career, Scott Guzielek has played a pivotal role in shaping the classical music landscape. As President and Artistic Director of the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA), he oversees the institution’s operations and artistic initiatives, helping to cultivate the next generation of opera stars. As AVA celebrates its 90th anniversary, Guzielek continues to champion its legacy of excellence in vocal training.
Debra Danese: Can you describe your role at AVA and what a typical day looks like for you?
Scott Guzielek: My role as both President and Artistic Director is to lead every aspect of the organization- from the exceptionally talented faculty that work with our Resident Artists daily, to the highly professional administrative team, to the world-renowned conductors, stage directors, and creative teams that bring to life our season of fully staged operas each year. My job is to balance the management of day-to-day activities while also charting the course for our future. My typical ranges from day-time meetings with faculty and staff, board committees and so on to evenings spent with our creative personnel and staff in technical rehearsals and performances. It is incredibly inspirational to see the combined efforts of so many benefit our Resident Artists!
DD: What drew you to AVA, and how has your background prepared you for this position?
SG: My career in opera administration began almost 20 years ago as Artistic Administrator of Washington National Opera, followed by Director of Artistic Operations at Palm Beach Opera. In both capacities, I had the opportunity and great fortune to engage and work with numerous graduates of AVA. These singers all possess the hallmarks of our training- excellent vocal technique, mastery of language and text, and an incredible level of preparation and determination. The opportunity to lead AVA, whose sole mission is to train the next generation of great opera singers, was truly too good to pass up and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my career.
DD: What does AVA’s 90th anniversary mean to you and the organization?
SG: There is an immense sense of pride in everyone involved in AVA that for 90 years we have never strayed from our sole mission of training opera singers, all while maintaining our founder’s vision of being a tuition-free institution. Given the current arts and culture landscape, this to me is truly an incredible feat and comes with the responsibility of strategically looking ahead and planning for continued growth and success. We have embarked on a strategic planning process to build on and expand our already robust training to ensure Resident Artists meet the ever-evolving demands of today’s world of opera.
DD: How is AVA celebrating this milestone, and what can audiences look forward to?
SG: The only way we know how- in truly grand operatic fashion! In a unique opportunity for Philadelphia, we are welcoming back alumni spanning over 30 years to join us for our BrAVA Philadelphia! Concert at Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center. This concert will feature some of opera’s most beloved and exciting arias and ensembles performed with our world-class AVA Opera Orchestra. There will truly be something for everyone on this program- so whether you are an opera novice or aficionado, this concert is not to be missed! It’s also important to point out that tickets start at $35 which should make it possible for everyone to join us for this celebration!
DD: What advice would you give to young singers aspiring to train at AVA?
SG: This is a timely question as we ready ourselves to hear auditions for next year. There is so much emphasis being placed on young singers to be “correct”- sing in tune, pronounce words correctly, be rhythmically accurate and so on, that has caused a sort of homogeneity in singing. Of course we value those qualities, but what we are most interested in are young singers with good voices that have the drive, passion, and potential to become great, unique artists. The legendary singers that came before them had exceptional voices but also the ability to touch the soul of the audience in a profound way. Young singers should always keep that at the very forefront of their minds as they embark on their journey!