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Opera for Peace Giving opportunities to citizen artists around the world, focusing on those who need extra support.

📣 ANNOUNCEMENT | OPERA FOR PEACE ACADEMY – CAPE TOWN 2027 🇿🇦APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!🗓 21–28 January 2027📍 Cape Town, S...
10/09/2026

📣 ANNOUNCEMENT | OPERA FOR PEACE ACADEMY – CAPE TOWN 2027 🇿🇦

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

🗓 21–28 January 2027
📍 Cape Town, South Africa

is delighted to announce its 6th Academy, taking place for the first time in South Africa and dedicated exclusively to exceptional emerging opera singers currently residing in the country.

Developed with Cape Town Opera and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, the Academy offers a week of world-class artistic training, mentorship, professional development and international exchange.

Made possible through the generous support of Fondation BNP Paribas – Opera for Peace’s Principal Partner, Fondazione L***a, Colin Schachat and Nicole Schachat, and other individual donors.

❤️ In memory of Madlala Smirie Khayakazi

This Academy is dedicated to Khayakazi Madlala, Opera for Peace Academy Artist 2024. In her honour, the Khayakazi Madlala Scholarship will be awarded to a South African artist selected for the 2027 Academy, celebrating her talent and place within the Opera for Peace family while creating an opportunity for another artist to develop their own path.

✨ THE ACADEMY OFFERS

• Full scholarships & all expenses paid
• Masterclasses & individual coaching with internationally renowned artists
• Professional development, career guidance & Citizen Artist workshops
• Long-term mentorship & access to Opera for Peace’s international network
• Final Academy concert at Casa L***a, 27 January, stage-directed by Opera for Peace Ambassador Denyce Graves
• Opportunity to perform alongside Opera for Peace Ambassador Ermonela Jaho, Siphokazi Molteno & Siphe Kwani with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, 28 January

❗️Open exclusively to artists currently residing in South Africa.

No application fee. No age limit.

🎶 APPLY
Online: Audition Oracle, deadline 25th November:

https://auditionoracle.com/opera_for_peace/opera_for_peace_academy_cape/kx/

Live auditions (upon invitation) held on 28 November 2026, Artscape, Cape Town | 10:00-18:00

Full details & requirements: operaforpeace.org & Audition Oracle

📸 Arnold Petersen

Knowing yourself is part of becoming a leader. 🔎We are grateful to for another valuable workshop at the Academy 2026...
10/06/2026

Knowing yourself is part of becoming a leader. 🔎

We are grateful to for another valuable workshop at the Academy 2026 – Lugano, led by Opera for Peace Vice President and .

As in previous Academies, our Artists completed questionnaires ahead of the Academy, providing the foundation for their Individual Style Profile. During the workshop, Mariano and Catherine went through their Development Reports with the Artists, helping them better understand their individual strengths, areas for development and the ways in which their personal style can shape their professional journey.

At Opera for Peace, we believe our participants have the potential to become leaders through culture and their talent. Artists have a unique ability to communicate, connect with people and inspire others — and developing this potential means knowing how to use their voice, understand themselves and navigate a fast-changing professional environment.

We want our Artists to be well-rounded, self-aware, self-sufficient and entrepreneurial, ready not only to build successful careers, but to use their artistry and communication skills to make an impact beyond the stage. 💫

A heartfelt thank you to Mariano and Catherine for creating such an insightful space for our singers to discover more about themselves and explore the qualities that can help them grow not only as artists, but as future cultural leaders.

The 5th Opera for Peace Academy at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura was made possible thanks to the valued support of our main sponsor Fondation BNP Paribas.

📸 Michel El Ghoul

A lovely chance to celebrate co-operation! ✨ was delighted to put mezzo-soprano forward for this year's edition of In...
09/30/2026

A lovely chance to celebrate co-operation! ✨

was delighted to put mezzo-soprano forward for this year's edition of Internationale Opernwerkstatt Waiblingen, where she gave a fantastic performance!

As part of the project, she also had the opportunity to work with Thomas Hampson, our esteemed Opera for Peace Advisor — a valuable experience and wonderful opportunity for any rising artist.

Earlier this year, Ilariandrea won the 77th International AsLiCo Competition for the role of Isabella in Rossini's "L'italiana in Algeri", and was also awarded the Giovanna Lomazzi Audience Prize. She will take on the role in OperaLombardia's 2026/27 season, with performances across Como, Pavia, Brescia and Cremona.

We are wishing Ilariandrea all the very best for her upcoming projects and everything that lies ahead!

📸 Peter Oppenländer



✨️ Going beyond the role ✨️We were very happy to welcome conductor and OfP Ambassador Tianyi Lu to the Academy 2026 – ...
09/28/2026

✨️ Going beyond the role ✨️

We were very happy to welcome conductor and OfP Ambassador Tianyi Lu to the Academy 2026 – Lugano at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura for a workshop of the most inspiring kind.

The workshop opened with our Artists exploring the interpretation of three different arias, looking beyond the music and the words to uncover the emotional core of each scene. From there, Tianyi invited everyone in the room, including the workshop guests, to join in and reflect on what makes us feel emotionally safe, how we can allow ourselves to let go while remaining grounded in the present, and how singers can draw on their own emotional experiences to deepen their understanding of a character.

Our Artists shared some very personal reflections from their own lives. These moments of honesty offered them an opportunity to look inward and explore how their own feelings and experiences can enrich their artistic expression.

Tianyi also opened an important conversation about mental health in the performing arts, a world that can be incredibly demanding and competitive. Taking care of yourself, she reminded us, is not separate from the artistic journey.

We are deeply grateful for the openness, warmth and energy Tianyi brought into the room, and for the opportunity to experience this workshop together during the Opera for Peace Academy 2026 – Lugano. 💙

The 5th Opera for Peace Academy in Lugano was made possible thanks to the valued support of our main sponsor Fondation BNP Paribas.

📸 Michel El Ghoul



On the very first day of the Academy 2026 – Lugano, our Co-Founder and Artistic and Musical Director, Maestro Kamal Kh...
09/25/2026

On the very first day of the Academy 2026 – Lugano, our Co-Founder and Artistic and Musical Director, Maestro Kamal Khan led a masterclass at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, setting the stage for the upcoming Gala Concert with the OSI - Orchestra della Svizzera italiana. 🎹

Working closely with our Academy artists, Kamal focused on the musical and interpretative details that bring a performance to life, highlighting the importance of tempo and the delicate balance between concentration and tension. One of his most memorable reminders was simple yet powerful: "Don't confuse tension with concentration." A thought that speaks to the importance of remaining focused, present and connected to the music.

And, in a lighter moment, he reminded our singers not to forget to enjoy their own performances. After all, if you take pleasure in what you do, at least one person in the audience is guaranteed to be happy. ✨

We are deeply grateful to have the Maestro as a permanent part of the Opera for Peace family, and for the dedication, guidance and invaluable work he shared with our artists throughout the week. His commitment to make our singers strive for excellence and discover new dimensions of their craft, was an essential part of their journey towards the Gala Concert.

The 5th Opera for Peace Academy in Lugano was made possible thanks to the valued support of our main sponsor Fondation BNP Paribas.

📸 Michel El Ghoul



We were deeply grateful to welcome the wonderful soprano to the Academy 2026 – Lugano, where she shared her experien...
09/23/2026

We were deeply grateful to welcome the wonderful soprano to the Academy 2026 – Lugano, where she shared her experience and knowledge in a masterclass dedicated to the richness of Italian and the traditions of Italian singing. 🎶

Throughout the masterclass, Anna placed particular emphasis on the importance of clear diction and mastering pronunciation, reminding our Academy artists that every word matters and that the text must always be understood.

In her interview at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura with , Anna also spoke about the importance of finding an agent who truly believes in your voice. And when asked what it takes to make it as a singer, she offered a powerful perspective:

Whether you are performing for 10 people in a small theatre or for an audience of 1,000, give the same commitment, the same truth and the same love to your singing. The people who have tears in their eyes when they hear you will be the ones who make the hard journey of making it in this business worthwhile. ✨️

Anna also reminded that a long career is built on much more than talent: a good head on one's shoulders, staying grounded, continuing to study throughout one's life, and always striving to improve one's technique are essential to lasting growth.

We are truly grateful to Anna Pirozzi for sharing her artistry, generosity and wisdom with our singers, and for being part of the 5th anniversary edition of the Opera for Peace Academy in Lugano. 💫

The 5th Opera for Peace Academy in Lugano was made possible thanks to the valued support of our main sponsor Fondation BNP Paribas.

📸 Michel El Ghoul



✨️ One stage. Ten voices. A world of opera. ✨On 12 September, the Gala Concert of the Academy 2026 – Lugano brought to...
09/21/2026

✨️ One stage. Ten voices. A world of opera. ✨

On 12 September, the Gala Concert of the Academy 2026 – Lugano brought together ten remarkable artists from across the globe on the stage of LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura in an evening of music, artistry, and connection.

A heartfelt bravo to our incredible Academy artists:

🔸 – Tenor, Kazakhstan
🔸 Alec Carlson – Tenor & OfP Emerging Artist Alumni, USA
🔸 – Baritone, Costa Rica
🔸 – Bass-baritone, South Korea
🔸 – Soprano, Spain/France
🔸 – Mezzo-soprano, South Africa
🔸 – Soprano, Hungary/Romania
🔸 – Mezzo-soprano & Lugano 2026 Fellowship Artist, Switzerland
🔸 – Mezzo-soprano, Türkiye
🔸 – Soprano, China

The Gala Concert came together through the work of Maestro Kamal Khan and the OSI - Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, , Stage Director, Michel El Ghoul, Assistant Stage Director & Scenographer, and , Moderator.

A special thank you to LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura for welcoming Opera for Peace into their home and to everyone who joined us for this celebration of talent, artistic exchange and shared vision. 🌍

The 5th for Peace Academy in Lugano was made possible thanks to the valued support of our main sponsor Fondation BNP Paribas.

📸 LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, Natalia Tsarkova, Michel El Ghoul



09/17/2026

✨ Words of wisdom from , Co-Founder & CEO of the . ✨️

"Be the author of your own life." A reminder to think and act from a place that is authentically our own — because the world needs original thinkers and doers who can extend the realm of what is possible. Not necessarily by creating something entirely new, but by bringing something into the world that could only come from them.

We are deeply grateful to Adama for sharing his perspective, generosity and energy with our artists during his inspiring workshop at the 2026 – Lugano LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura. 🌍🎶

Thank you, Adama, for reminding us to dare and write our own stories – through and beyond.

The 5th Opera for Peace Academy in Lugano was made possible thanks to the valued support of its main sponsor Fondation BNP.

📽 Jenna Wolf



09/15/2026

📽️ Opera for Peace Academy 2026 in the spotlight!

On September 11, Julia Lagahuzère, OfP Founder & General Director, , OfP Academy 2026 artist, and , moderator of our Gala Concert, joined Radiotelevisione svizzera (RSI)'s "Prima Ora" live for a special 9-minute conversation about our newest Academy, our artists, and the Gala Concert LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura. It was a wonderful opportunity to share more about our work and the values behind it with the people of the Ticino region in Switzerland. 🎶

A heartfelt thank you to LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura for organising this opportunity and helping bring the story of Opera for Peace to the local community and beyond.

Additional thanks goes out to the team of RSI and "Prima Ora" for welcoming Julia, Dilan and Davide this warmly and giving them the space to share their voices.

🎥 Watch the full interview from September 11.

The 5th Opera for Peace Academy in Lugano was made possible thanks to the valued support of its main sponsor Fondation BNP Paribas.



We were honoured to welcome , CEO of the , for an inspiring workshop with our Academy artists, together with Julia Lag...
09/11/2026

We were honoured to welcome , CEO of the , for an inspiring workshop with our Academy artists, together with Julia Lagahuzère, Founder & General Director of . 💡

We are deeply grateful to Adama for sharing his innovative perspective on , creativity, social impact, and the importance of giving back to one's community.

But perhaps one message of his will stay with our 10 artists above all: don’t be merely a character in your own story — become its main protagonist.

A powerful reminder that being an artist means not only imagining the world we want to see, but taking an active role in shaping it. 🌍✨

The 5th Opera for Peace Academy in Lugano is made possible thanks to the valued support of its main sponsor Fondation BNP Paribas.

📸 Michel El Ghoul


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