October 30, 2025
Over the past several months, three distinguished alumni of the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA), soprano Alexandra Nowakowski (’18), soprano Lydia Grindatto (’25), and tenor Dominick Chenes (’16), have made notable strides on the international opera stage, earning critical acclaim and advancing their professional profiles in major performances and competitions.
Alexandra Nowakowski made a highly anticipated Metropolitan Opera debut in October 2025, stepping into the role of Amina in La Sonnambula. The last-minute cast change proved a triumph, with critics and audiences alike praising her effortless agility and radiant stage presence. Known for her shimmering tone and expressive phrasing, Nowakowski has been hailed as one of the most exciting young voices to watch with her Met debut marking a major milestone in an already ascending career.
Another AVA alumna making waves this fall is Lydia Grindatto, who continues to draw international attention following her First Prize win at the 2025 Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition. Shortly after, Grindatto made her European festival debut at Wexford Festival Opera in the title role of Le Trouvère. Edinburgh Music Review praised Grindatto, remarking, “American soprano Lydia Grindatto makes a delectable Leonore, repaying Verdi’s generosity manifold. Her Act I aria confiding her love for a mysterious troubadour to her friend Inès (Tacea la notte placida & Di tale amor) was absolutely gorgeous, but there was better to come as the melodrama ramped up. The trio at the end of Act I where she tries to prevent the rivals from duelling (Di geloso amor sprezzato) was stunning. Her Act IV aria buying Manrique’s freedom by offering herself to The Count, even as she has taken poison (Mira, d’acerbe lagrime) was heartrending, as was her Trio with the rivals, where she makes clear where her loyalty lies, even as she dies (Prima che d’altri vivere). Fabulous.”
Meanwhile, tenor Dominick Chenes has earned praise on the same Wexford Festival stage for his commanding portrayal of Solano in Frederick Delius’s The Magic Fountain. Critics commended his “vibrant, ringing tone” and “heroic quality,” pointing to his potential in the dramatic and heldentenor repertoire. Earlier this year, Chenes also appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick, continuing his trajectory of major debuts and expanding repertoire across both American and European stages.
Together, these recent achievements highlight the continued global impact of AVA’s training and artistic mentorship. With performances spanning leading houses and festivals on both sides of the Atlantic, Nowakowski, Grindatto, and Chenes exemplify the next generation of operatic excellence fostered by the Academy of Vocal Arts.
Sources:
Seen and Heard International – “An Excellent Wexford Performance Cannot Disguise the Flaws in Delius’s The Magic Fountain” (October 2025)
https://seenandheard-international.com/2025/10/an-excellent-wexford-performance-cannot-disguise-the-flaws-in-deliuss-the-magic-fountain