Accademia Verdiana 2026
New edition
Advanced course in Verdi’s repertoire
Operazione Rif. PA 2025-25390/RER approvata con DGR n. 2030 del 09/12/2025 e cofinanziata con risorse del Fse+ e della Regione Emilia-Romagna
In collaboration with Scuola di Musica di Fiesole, Accademia d’arte lirica di Osimo, Comune di Parma Assessorato alla cultura, Provincia di Parma, Istituto nazionale di studi verdiani, Fondazione Arturo Toscanini, Fondazione Teatro Due di Parma, Associazione “Parma, io ci sto!”, Fondazione I teatri di Reggio Emilia
Application by February 4, 2026
Selections from February 18 to 21, 2026
Classes March – December 2026
Teatro Regio announces the ninth edition of Accademia Verdiana. The course is open to 12 opera singers, who will receive free training in vocal, musical, and theatrical excellence, as well as a scholarship of € 1,000.
Candidates of both sexes, who are of legal age on February 4, 2026, reside or are domiciled in Emilia-Romagna, have fulfilled their compulsory education and right-duty to education and training, and have obtained a diploma in singing from an institute of higher musical education are eligible to participate in the course. If the studies have been completed at a private music school or with a private teacher, the director or teacher, under their own responsibility, must declare the maturity and suitability of the student.
Non-EU candidates must comply with current immigration regulations.
Application forms
Applications, complete with the relevant documentation, must be submitted between January 8 and February 4, 2026, by creating an online profile at the following link. Incomplete applications or those received after the deadline will not be considered.
The selection tests will take place at the Teatro Regio in Parma from February 18 to 21, 2026: preliminary round (February 18, 19, and 20) and final round (February 21).
Candidates will be evaluated by a commission appointed by the Academy, to which they will present five arias indicated in the application form, including:
- three opera arias by Verdi
- one opera or concert aria by Mozart
- one opera aria by Rossini, Bellini or Donizetti.
The arias must be sung in their original language and presented in their entirety (including recitatives and cabalettas where applicable); candidates must use their own sheet music, providing a copy to the accompanist. In the preliminary round, candidates will perform an aria of their choice and, if requested, an aria selected by the Commission from those indicated in the program submitted. At the end of the preliminary round, the alphabetical list of those admitted to the final round will be published on teatroregioparma.it and candidates will be notified by email. In the final round, candidates will perform one or more arias chosen by the Commission from those indicated in the program submitted. They will also be required to attend an individual interview.
The results of the final phase will be published on February 23 2026, on teatroregioparma.it. The 12 candidates admitted to the course will also be notified by email. The other finalists, according to their position in the ranking, may take the place of the course holders in the event of their withdrawal.
Program
The course lasts 1000 hours, divided into lessons and daily activities. The teaching program includes group lessons, individual lessons, and masterclasses dedicated to:
- interpretation of Verdi’s repertoire, study of the sheet music, diction techniques, vocal and interpretative techniques, vocal ensemble music, stage movement and group interaction, choreographic movements, acting, opera history, professional profile management, and contractual matters (800 hours);
- workshops, in-depth seminars, meetings with conductors, directors, singers, and opera professionals; participation as auditors in rehearsals for the Opera Season, the Verdi Festival, and Verdi Off 2026 productions; active participation in events related to the Verdi Festival 2026 (200 hours).
Lessons will be taught by teachers, professionals, and vocal coaches specializing in Verdi’s repertoire.
Attendance at the course is compulsory and full-time (minimum 5 hours per day) and is not compatible with other commitments. At the end of the course, a certificate of attendance will be issued only to students who have attended at least 70% of the scheduled training hours.
