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 major cities of 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.
Youth Voice Program
Varna International Music Academy (VIMA) offers rich and versatile voice 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 throughout the country for this incredible experience to grow as a young singer.
Youth applicants can choose between three options to participate in our summer 2025 program. Join us for one week, two weeks, or come and enjoy three full weeks of singing.
OPTION 1: Mozart’s Mass in C minor
What's Included:
- Perform in the chorus of Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
- One 45-minute voice lesson taught by a Metropolitan Opera singer
- Perform in our Youth Recital (must apply & submit an audition recording)
- Daily ensemble rehearsals with Choir Master
- Vocal masterclasses
- German diction classes (optional)
- French diction classes (optional)
OPTION 2: Mozart’s Mass in C minor and A Grand Night for Singing: A Musical Revue of Rodgers & Hammerstein
What's Included:
- Perform in the chorus of Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
- Perform in the ensemble of A Grand Night for Singing: A Musical Revue of Rodgers & Hammerstein under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter
- One 45-minute voice lesson per week taught by Metropolitan Opera singers (two lessons total)
- Perform in our Youth Recital (must apply & submit an audition recording)
- Daily ensemble rehearsals with Choir Master
- Vocal masterclasses
- German diction classes (optional)
- French diction classes (optional)
OPTION 3: Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor, A Grand Night for Singing: A Musical Revue of Rodgers & Hammerstein, and Die Fledermaus
What's Included:
- Perform in the chorus of Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
- Perform in the ensemble of A Grand Night for Singing: A Musical Revue of Rodgers & Hammerstein under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
- Perform in the ensemble of the fully staged (including scenery & costumes) of the opera Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
- One 45-minute voice lesson per week taught by Metropolitan Opera singers (three lessons total)
- Perform in our Youth Recital (must apply & submit an audition recording)
- Daily ensemble rehearsals with Choir Master
- Vocal masterclasses
- German diction classes (optional)
- French diction classes (optional)
Application & Audition Requirements:
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 from within the past 12 months containing:
- One classical piece
- One musical theater piece
Optional Add-Ons & Exclusions:
Accommodations:
Lodging will be in student campus housing (Columbia), in a hotel (Greenville), or in host homes (Coast). This is optional. Participants are welcome to make their own lodging arrangements.
- Double occupancy: $350 per week (7 nights)
- Single occupancy: $525 per week (7 nights)
Meal availability depends on the city. Please see the breakdown below:
- Columbia: 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
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.
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 major cities of 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. Participants accepted in VIMA’s Youth Instrumental Program will be placed into either the Chamber Instrumental Program or the Orchestral Program based on their audition. Please see below to learn what is included in each program.
Chamber Instrumental Program:
- Perform in chamber music opportunities
- One 45-minute individual lesson per week with a master teacher
- 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 Youth Recital
- Brahms’ Violin Concerto featuring Ilya Kaler
- Brahms’ Symphony #1
- Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor
- Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II
- A Grand Night for Singing: A Musical Revue of Rodgers & Hammerstein
OPTION 1: Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Ilya Kaler & Brahms’ Symphony #1
What's Included:
- Perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Ilya Kaler & Brahms’ Symphony #1 two times with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestra Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM APPLICANTS ONLY)
- Participate in the string masterclass with world-renowned violinist Ilya Kaler (applications required – ONLY 4 APPLICANTS WILL BE CHOSEN TO PERFORM)
- Opportunity to have a private 30-minute lesson with Ilya Kaler for an additional cost of $200 (applications & audition recordings required – ONLY 24 PARTICIPANTS WILL BE CHOSEN)
- Participate in the string masterclass with master teacher and violinist, Levon Ambartsumian (auditions are required to be chose to perform)
- One 45-minute individual lesson per week with a master teacher
- 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
OPTION 2: Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor & Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Ilya Kaler & Brahms’ Symphony #1
What's Included:
- Perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Ilya Kaler & Brahms’ Symphony #1 two times with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM APPLICANTS ONLY)
- Perform Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor two times with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM APPLICANTS ONLY)
- Participate in the string masterclass with world-renowned violinist Ilya Kaler (applications required – ONLY 4 APPLICANTS WILL BE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE)
- Opportunity to have a private 30-minute lesson with Ilya Kaler for an additional cost of $200 (applications & audition recordings required – ONLY 24 PARTICIPANTS WILL BE CHOSEN)
- Participate in the string masterclass with master teacher and violinist, Levon Ambartsumian (auditions are required to be chose to perform)
- One 60-minute individual lesson per week with a master teacher
- One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
- One 2-hour group music coaching to prepare for the student chamber recital
- Participation in the student chamber recital
OPTION 3: A Grand Night for Singing and Die Fledermaus
What's Included:
- Perform in the Festival Orchestra for A Grand Night for Singing (if applicable to the score) under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM APPLICANTS ONLY)
- Perform in the Festival Orchestra for Die Fledermaus under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM APPLICANTS ONLY)
- Participate in the string masterclass with master teacher and violinist, Levon Ambartsumian (auditions are required to be chose to perform)
- One 60-minute individual lesson per week with a master teacher
- One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
- One 2-hour group music coaching to prepare for the student chamber recital
- Participation in the student chamber recital
OPTION 4: All Works
What's Included:
- Perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Ilya Kaler & Brahms’ Symphony #1 two times with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM APPLICANTS ONLY)
- Perform Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor two times with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM APPLICANTS ONLY)
- Perform in the Festival Orchestra for A Grand Night for Singing (if applicable to the score) under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM APPLICANTS ONLY)
- Perform in the Festival Orchestra for Die Fledermaus under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM APPLICANTS ONLY)
- Participate in the string masterclass with world-renowned violinist Ilya Kaler (applications required – ONLY 4 APPLICANTS WILL BE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE)
- Opportunity to have a private 30-minute lesson with Ilya Kaler for an additional cost of $200 (applications & audition recordings required – ONLY 24 PARTICIPANTS WILL BE CHOSEN)
- Participate in the string masterclass with master teacher & violinist, Levon Ambartsumian (auditions are required to be chosen to perform)
- One 60-minute individual lesson per week with a master teacher
- One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
- One 2-hour group music coaching to prepare for the student chamber recital
- Participation in the student chamber recital
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 accompaniment
Optional Add-Ons & Exclusions:
Accommodations:
Lodging will be in student campus housing (Columbia), in a hotel (Greenville), or in host homes (Coast). This is optional. Participants are welcome to make their own lodging arrangements.
- Double occupancy: $350 per week (7 nights)
- Single occupancy: $525 per week (7 nights)
Meal availability depends on the city. Please see the breakdown below:
- Columbia: 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
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.