The Atkins Program is an international educational project based at the Mariinsky Theatre that aims to provide support to young opera singers at the outset of their professional careers. The programme’s grant-recipients are singers who have already won initial public acclaim, received awards and diplomas at prestigious international competitions and are engaged on the stage.
The Atkins Program offers them opportunities for artistic growth and professional development.
The programme’s grant-recipients are given the chance to perfect their vocal and stage skills under internationally acclaimed teachers, accompanists and coaches, take part in master-classes and train in Europe and the USA. The first grant-recipients of the Atkins Program were young Mariinsky Theatre soloists Alexander Mikhailov and Yevgeny Akhmedov, as well as Dmitry Grigoriev, a prize-winner at the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition.
In addition to perfecting their vocal and stage skills, participants of the Atkins Program appear and tour together with the Mariinsky Theatre, perform recitals, work with theatre administrators and managers and PR agencies and have the opportunity to audition for future collaboration with leading opera houses, music ensembles and arts agencies.
The programme’s consultants are:
Eva Wagner-Pasquier – opera manager, consultant of the Wagner Music Festival in Bayreuth and jury member of international vocal competitions;
Diane Zola – Director of Artistic Administration for the Houston Grand Opera, vocals teacher and jury member of international vocal competitions;
Sarah Billinghurst Solomon – opera administrator, manager of work with singers and former Assistant Artistic General Manager for the Metropolitan Opera.
Artistic Director of the project – Valery Gergiev.
This project is possible thanks to the generous financial support of Veronica Atkins (USA).
