Faculty & Guest Artists
AVA has a faculty of conductors and coaches devoted to preparing exceptional young artists for a future in opera singing.
K. James McDowell
President and Artistic Director
Christofer Macatsoris
Jeannine B. Cowles Music Director Chair
Voice Instructors
Bill Schuman
Voice Faculty
Luis Ledesma
Voice Faculty
Sally Wolf
Voice Faculty
Benita Valente
Adjunct Voice Faculty
Florence Quivar
Adjunct Voice Faculty
Vocal Coaches
David Antony Lofton
Master Vocal Coach
Danielle Orlando
Master Vocal Coach
Richard A. Raub
Master Vocal Coach
Luke Housner
Master Vocal Coach
Michael Lewis
Vocal Coach
Audrey Saint-Gil
Vocal Coach
Accompanists
José Meléndez
Assistant to the Music Director/Librarian
Elise Auerbach
Accompanist
Ting Ting Wong
Accompanist
Ramsey Reyes
Accompanist
Guest Artists
Course Instructors
Beth Clayton, CMHC, MM
Mental Wellness Coach
Charles Conwell
Instructor in Stage Combat
Robert Kahn
Assistant Conductor
Nicole Layseca
French
Lisa Lovelace
Instructor in Stage Movement and Dance
Bob Rowland
Opera History
Robert Thayer Sataloff, MD, DMA
Head of Voice Science Department
Dr. Julia Zavadsky
Russian Diction Coach
Thor Eckert · Professional Development Coach
Gudrun von Auenmueller · Instructor in German
Ennio Brugnolo · Instructor in Italian