May 6, 2026
Five Academy of Vocal Arts Resident Artists have been named finalists in the 2026 Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition, continuing AVA’s strong tradition of representation at one of the country’s most respected showcases for emerging opera singers. The finals will take place on May 17, bringing together a select group of young artists from across the nation to compete before a panel of distinguished judges.
Representing AVA this year are bass Cumhur Gorgun, baritone Joshua James Klein, soprano Daniela Machado, tenor Matthew Sink, and soprano Anna Thompson. Each artist reflects the depth and rigor of AVA’s training, having distinguished themselves through both performance and competition success this season.
Founded in 1972, the Zachary Competition has long been a proving ground for rising operatic talent, offering finalists not only significant awards but meaningful exposure at a critical stage in their careers. For AVA Resident Artists, participation in this competition is a natural extension of the school’s performance-based training, where technical command and expressive storytelling are developed in equal measure.
This year’s finalists step onto the Zachary stage with growing momentum. Anna Thompson, soprano, has already drawn national attention through recent competition wins, while her fellow AVA colleagues continue to build impressive résumés across a range of repertoire and performance opportunities. Together, they represent a dynamic cross-section of the next generation of opera talent.
As the May 17 finals approach, AVA celebrates these artists and the work that brought them to this moment. Their presence in the Zachary Competition speaks not only to individual achievement, but to the strength of AVA’s commitment to preparing singers for the demands of a professional career on the operatic stage.