The Key West Symphony Young Artist program was established in the year 2001 to provide an intensive summer experience for students of college age and aspiring young professionals and to help them sharpen their skills through performances, master classes, coaching’s and individual vocal instruction. Acting and dance classes are also provided.  Through the program participants develop a repertoire of scenes and arias from opera and musical theatre literature. Classes are given three times a week with an emphasis on audition techniques, characterization and successful audition package preparation. 

“Being a KWS Young Artist gave me the valuable experience I needed to make a successful career in music. I was able to work with wonderful staff members in the program that also helped shape me as a future educator. I had a variety of performing experiences and opportunities as a Key West Young Artist and highly recommend the program.”
     La’Tarsha Long
Young Artist ‘05, ‘06, ‘07
Currently a Resident Artist at Connecticut Opera

About the Artistic Director

DONNA ROLL, a dramatic soprano and winner of the Kirsten Flagstad, made her operatic debut at the Royal Opera in Stockholm and her recital debuts in London, Copenhagen, and New York’s Lincoln Center. She has appeared in opera, oratorio, and recital in Europe, the former Soviet Union, and throughout the United States, performing with the symphonies of Rochester, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Baltimore, Kansas City, Seattle, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Oregon, Virginia, Mississippi, and Vancouver. She sang with the Minnesota Symphony, where she accepted the sorority Sigma Alpha Iota Woman of the Year Award. Currently Director of Opera at the Longy School of Music, Ms. Roll was a faculty member for over a decade at the New England Conservatory of Music, teaching both voice and opera workshop classes. She has been recipient of the Distinguished Woman in the Arts Award twice from the National Federation of Women’s Club for establishing Operafest and creating opportunities for young singers. Ms. Roll has been the subject of a CNN documentary, featuring her work with young singers. Ms. Roll was invited to be the vocal coach for the Zarzuela project at the Jarvis Conservatory in Napa Valley, CA. Ms. Roll has also been vocal consultant to Faye Dunaway for her role in Masterclass, F. Abraham Murray for his role in King Lear, James Taylor, Jill Clayburgh and many other successful celebrities. She has also had several prize winning students who can be found singing at Brevard, Chatauqua Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Central City Opera, Lake George Opera, Sarasota Opera, New Jersey Opera, New York  City Opera and Connecticut Opera. She is renowned for creating successful careers for singers all over the world.
This will be her seventh year as Artistic Director of the Key West Symphony Young Artist Program.

Faculty

Jan McDaniel
Oklahoma City University

Sergio Puig
Florida Grand Opera

Dr. William N. Christensen
Oklahoma City University

Yoko Hagin
Longy School of Music

Richard Grusin - Acting

Penny Leto - Choreographer

Tuition
Total cost for the program is $3,000.00. This includes housing in the luxurious Doubletree Grand Key Hotel & Resort, all classes, private lessons, coachings, and master classes. Transportation to and from the airport is also provided as well as daily transportation to and from classes and performances. Participants are responsible for their airfare and food.

If you are accepted into the program a non-refundable deposit of $1,500.00 is due by May 15th and the full amount is due upon arrival in Key West on June 1st.

2008 Young Artist Application