These scholarships are awarded for a three-month probationary period, and thereafter on a yearly basis. In addition, fellowship grants are awarded each year to offset the cost of living expenses while attending AVA.
Although AVA Resident Artists do not pay tuition, they are responsible for their own daily living expenses and for securing their own living arrangements.
AVA is located one block south of Rittenhouse Square, a historic residential area in Center City Philadelphia. Grocery and convenience stores, laundromats, pharmacies, bookshops, hardware stores, restaurants, health clubs, and clothing stores can all be found within a few blocks of The Academy.
Most students live alone or with roommates in numerous apartment and boarding houses in the immediate vicinity as there are no dormitories at AVA. Every effort is made on the part of AVA to assist in finding suitable housing. Estimated monthly costs-of-living in Philadelphia for a single student is listed below.
| Rent | $ 950 |
| Electric/Gas/Water | $ 150 |
| Cell Phone/Internet | $ 120 |
| Food | $ 400 |
| Laundry/Dry Cleaning | $ 40 |
| Personal/Recreation | $ 150 |
| Books & Music | $ 200 |
| Miscellaneous | $ 150 |
| Monthly total | $ 2,160 |
|---|---|
| Approx. 9-Month Subtotal | $ 19,440 |
We are flexible in our approach to this matter because of the varying needs and requirements encountered by our students. Our goal is to assure the necessary financial aid for the student while avoiding the need for excessive borrowing.
The Academy of Vocal Arts does not provide either medical or personal property insurance. It is strongly recommended that each student subscribe to a health plan.
Personal belongings should be kept in lockers (provided by AVA) for security. Contact your local insurance agent to see if losses are covered by personal or family policies.
Resident Artists are encouraged to seek outside professional solo engagements, and are also permitted to augment their income by filling positions as soloists in church and synagogue choirs. However, it is the firm belief of AVA faculty, that extensive singing in professional choirs is not conducive to creating the correct presence of a solo vocal artist, and further, that such singing may be injurious to the voice and adversely affect the singer’s work and progress at AVA
In most cases, foreign students will not be eligible for employment in the U.S. Exceptions are sometimes made when the employment is within the student’s field of study. A Form I-538 must be submitted to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for approval of such work, including apprentice programs with opera companies in the U.S.