Opera & Musical Theater

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 alongside master artists. The program will take place in major cities throughout South Carolina, including the Capital City of Columbia, as well as the cities of Greenville, Rock Hill, and Myrtle Beach along the breathtaking shores of the Grand Strand.

Accepted participants who choose the Opera option will perform principal or supporting roles in the opera, while those who choose one of the Musical Theater options will sing solo(s) in A Grand Night for Singing and/or in a special concert featuring favorites from the past 80 years of Broadway (click on “List of Broadway Solos” on the right to see a complete list). All of these productions will be performed with orchestra in some of the finest performance venues of South Carolina under the baton of our Music Director, Maestro Gregory Buchalter from The Metropolitan Opera. Please read below to learn more details about all 3 track options.

Our 2025 VIMA participants will be eligible to audition for future Varna International Productions in Europe and the USA. Apply for one of the options below and join us for an unforgettable summer of music featuring:


  • Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II
  • A Grand Night for Singing: A Musical Revue of Rodgers & Hammerstein
  • From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics (click on “List of Broadway Solos” on the right to see a complete list).


  • Opera

    Die Fledermaus


    What's Included:

    • Principal or comprimario role in one fully staged orchestral performance of Die Fledermaus under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (ROLES MUST BE MEMORIZED PRIOR TO ARRIVAL)
    • Perform in the ensemble of the fully staged productions of A Grand Night for Singing with orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
    • Perform in the ensemble during the Broadway portion of the From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics, under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
    • Perform in one Chanson du Soir recital
    • Consideration to become a soloist in productions of A Grand Night for Singing
    • Consideration to become a soloist in From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics
    • One 60-minute voice lesson per week taught by Metropolitan Opera singers
    • One 30-60-minute coaching (depending on the role/solo) per week with one of our master opera & musical theater coaches
    • Music rehearsals with Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
    • Staging rehearsals with the stage director
    • Perform in one Chanson du Soir recital
    • Vocal masterclasses
    • German diction classes
    • French diction classes


    Musical Theater

    A Grand Night for Singing &
    From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics
    (click on “List of Broadway Solos” on the right to see a complete list)


    OPTION 1: From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics


    What's Included:

    • Solo(s) in the Broadway portion of the From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics concert with full orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (MUSIC MUST BE MEMORIZED PRIOR TO ARRIVAL)
    • Perform in the ensemble for the rest of the Broadway portion of From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
    • One 60-minute voice lesson per week taught by Metropolitan Opera singers
    • One 30-60-minute coaching per week with one of our master opera & musical theater coaches
    • Music rehearsals with Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
    • Vocal masterclasses
    • German diction classes
    • French diction classes


    OPTION 2: From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics AND A Grand Night for Singing


    What's Included:

    • Solo(s) in the Broadway portion of the From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics concert with full orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (MUSIC MUST BE MEMORIZED PRIOR TO ARRIVAL)
    • Solo(s) in fully staged orchestral productions of A Grand Night for Singing under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (MUSIC MUST BE MEMORIZED PRIOR TO ARRIVAL)
    • Perform in the ensemble during the Broadway portion of From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
    • Perform in one Chanson du Soir recital
    • One 60-minute voice lesson per week taught by Metropolitan Opera singers
    • One 30-60-minute coaching per week with one of our master opera & musical theater coaches
    • Music rehearsals with Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
    • Staging rehearsals with the stage director
    • Vocal masterclasses
    • German diction classes
    • French diction classes


    Optional Add-Ons & Exclusions:

    Accommodations:
    Lodging will be in student campus housing in the City of Columbia for the majority of the time, in host homes on the Grand Strand for a few nights, and in a hotel in Greenville for a few nights. Participants are welcome to make their own lodging arrangements, if preferred.

    • Double occupancy: $350 per week (7 nights)
    • Single occupancy (single bath NOT included): $525 per week (7 nights)
    Meals:
    Meal availability depends on the city. Please see the breakdown below:
    • Columbia: A meal plan is available for $35 per day. This includes 3 meals each day provided by Columbia International University (CIU). Participants who opt for the meal plan must pay for the entire service. The meal plan cannot be modified.
    • Greenville: Participants responsible for all meals
    • Coast: Participants responsible for all meals
    Ground Transportation:
    Transportation during VIMA SC is included for those that add lodging to their program package, but participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the airport.

    We encourage you to connect with other participants to make arrangements for shared rides during the program. Varna International will facilitate contact between participants to aid in your communication.