Participants enrolled in Varna International Music Academy (VIMA) will receive in-depth music instruction from our expert faculty and will benefit from unparalleled performance opportunities. The program will take place in the beautiful regions of Varna, Bulgaria & Italy in July 2025.


Youth Voice Program

Varna International Music Academy (VIMA) offers rich and versatile vocal and choral ensemble training for youth in Summer 2025. Applicants accepted into the Youth Voice Program will get the opportunity to train under our master voice faculty, our choir master, and Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera. Vocalists in our Youth Program will be exposed to rich oratorio, opera, and musical theater repertoire. Join singers from across the globe for this incredible experience to grow as a young singer.

Youth applicants can choose between three options to participate in our summer 2025 program in Bulgaria & Italy. Join us for one and a half weeks, two and a half weeks, or come to enjoy all four weeks of singing.

NOTE: Advanced applicants are encouraged to apply for VIMA’s opera program and audition for roles in the program’s fully staged opera or musical theater productions. To be considered for a role, please submit a headshot, resumé, & video recording. Otherwise, only an application & resumé are required.

Option 1: Bulgaria


What's Included:
  • Perform in the chorus of Petite messe solennelle by Gioachino Rossini under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • One 45-minute voice lesson per week taught by a Metropolitan Opera singer
  • Perform in our Youth Recital (must apply & submit an audition recording)
  • Audition for a solo in A Grand Night for Singing: A Musical Revue of Rodgers & Hammerstein
  • Daily ensemble rehearsals with Choir Master
  • Vocal masterclasses
  • Italian diction classes (optional)
  • Lodging in 3 and / or 4-star hotels, with breakfasts provided
  • Ground transportation

Option 2: Bulgaria and Italy


What's Included:
  • Perform in the Festival Chorus of Petite messe solennelle under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform in the ensemble of A Grand Night for Singing under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (when applicable to performance dates)
  • Perform in the ensemble of Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (when applicable to performance dates)
  • Perform in our Youth Recital (must apply & submit an audition recording)
  • One 45-minute voice lesson per week taught by Metropolitan Opera singers
  • Daily ensemble rehearsals with the Choir Master
  • Vocal masterclass with expert voice faculty
  • Masterclasses in choreography, stage techniques, stage combat (if applicable)
  • Italian diction classes
  • Lodging in 3 and/ or 4-star hotels, with breakfasts provided
  • Ground transportation (excluding airport transfers)

Option 3: Bulgaria and Italy


What's Included:
  • Perform in the Festival Chorus of Petite messe solenelle by Gioachino Rossini under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform in the Festival Chorus of Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform in the Festival Chorus of A Grand Night for Singing under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform in our Youth Recital (must apply & submit an audition recording)
  • One 45-minute voice lesson per week taught by Metropolitan Opera singers
  • Daily ensemble rehearsals with the Choir Master
  • Vocal masterclass with expert voice faculty
  • Masterclasses in choreography, stage techniques, stage combat (if applicable)
  • Italian diction classes
  • Lodging in 3 and/ or 4-star hotels, with breakfasts provided
  • Ground transportation (excluding airport transfers)

Option 4: ALL WORKS (with soloist opportunities) - Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, & A Grand Night for Singing (Bulgaria & Italy)


What's Included:
  • Perform in the chorus of Petite messe solennelle by Gioachino Rossini under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform in the ensemble of the fully staged (including scenery & costumes) of the operas Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform in the ensemble of A Grand Night for Singing under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Audition for a solo role in the operas Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Audition for a solo in A Grand Night for Singing: A Musical Revue of Rodgers & Hammerstein
  • One 45-minute voice lesson per week taught by Metropolitan Opera singers
  • Perform in our Youth Recital (must apply & submit an audition recording)
  • Daily ensemble rehearsals with Choir Master
  • Full Stage rehearsals with Maestro, stage director, and festival chorus
  • Vocal masterclasses
  • Italian diction classes (optional)
  • Lodging in 3 and / or 4-star hotels, with breakfasts provided
  • Ground transportation

Application & Audition Requirements:

Applicants for the Opera, Musical Theater, & Oratorio Program must submit the following:

  • Application
  • Resumé
  • Headshot (only if wanting to be considered for a solo)
  • Video recording from within the past 12 months containing:
    • One classical piece
    • One musical theater piece

Applicants for the Choral Singer Program must submit the following:

  • Application
  • Resumé (only if applying for a role)
  • Headshot (only if applying for a role)
  • Video recording (only if applying for a role)


Optional Add-Ons & Exclusions:

Tips & Gratuities:
An additional $10 per day will be added to your tuition price to cover all tips & gratuities on provided services & personnel.

Single Occupancy:
An additional $490 per week ($70 per day) will be added to your tuition price for single occupancy lodging.

Air Travel:
Participants are responsible for arranging all air travel. This includes international flights to and from VIMA as well as the domestic flight from Bulgaria to Italy during the program. Varna International is available to assist participants with making travel arrangements, upon request.



Youth Instrumentalist Program

Participants enrolled in Varna International Music Academy’s (VIMA) Youth Instrumental Program will receive in-depth music instruction from our expert faculty and will benefit from unparalleled performance opportunities alongside world-class expert artists. This program will take place in the beautiful region of Northern Italy. Participants accepted in VIMA’s Youth Instrumental Program will be placed into either the Orchestral Program or the Chamber Instrumental Program based on their audition. Both programs include lodging in 3 and/or 4-star hotels with breakfasts and ground transportation. Please see below to learn what else is included in each program.

Orchestral Program:
  • Perform in the Symphony Orchestra Concert
  • Perform in the Festival Orchestra for Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera.
  • Perform in the Festival Orchestra for A Grand Night for Singing: A Musical Revue of Rodgers & Hammerstein under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
  • Two-hour group music coaching to prepare for the chamber recital
  • Participation in the Chamber Music Youth Recital
Chamber Instrumental Program:
  • Perform in Chamber Music Youth Recital
  • One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
  • Two-hour group music coaching to prepare for the chamber recital
  • ...and more

Dates & Tuition Information:


Application & Audition Requirements:

Applicants for the Youth Instrumental Program must submit the following:

  • Application
  • Resumé
  • Video recording from within the past 12 months containing solo repertoire or works performed with piano or orchestral accompaniment


What’s Included in the Orchestral Program:
  • Perform in the Symphony Orchestra Program
  • Perform in the Festival Orchestra for Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform in the Festival Orchestra for A Grand Night for Singing: A Musical Revue of Rodgers & Hammerstein under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (if applicable to the score)
  • One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
  • Two-hour group chamber music coaching to prepare for the instrumental chamber recital
  • Participation in the Youth Recital
What’s Included in the Chamber Instrumental Program:
  • Perform in chamber music opportunities
  • One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
  • Two-hour group chamber music coaching to prepare for the instrumental chamber recital
  • Participation in the Youth Recital


Optional Add-Ons & Exclusions:

Tips & Gratuities:
An additional $10 per day will be added to your tuition price to cover all tips & gratuities on provided services & personnel.

Single Occupancy:
An additional $490 per week ($70 per day) will be added to your tuition price for single occupancy lodging.

Air Travel:
Participants are responsible for arranging all air travel. This includes international flights to and from VIMA as well as the domestic flight from Bulgaria to Italy during the program. Varna International is available to assist participants with making travel arrangements, upon request.