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HARROWER SUMMER OPERA
at Georgia State University
May 22 - June 14, 2026
About
Artist Faculty
2026 Shows
Past Seasons
Tuition & Housing
Application & Audition Requirements
Submit Application
History
About
About the Workshop
Harrower Summer Opera
unites talented young opera-artists from around the country in an intensive three-week summer session culminating in dynamic opera & scenes productions. Located on Georgia State University’s campus in thriving downtown Atlanta, Harrower Summer Opera's faculty of world-class directors, conductors, coaches, and clinicians work intensely with opera cast members. Through their time with the program, artists deepen their performance skills and musical artistry, expand their stage presence, make life-long friendships and discover meaningful connections to the professional world.
WORKSHOP
May 22 - June 14, 2026
Each summer Harrower Summer Opera (HSO) produces two fully staged main stage opera productions with its
Young Artist
participants, with principal roles double cast to present four performances before live audiences.
While at Harrower Summer Opera, members of the program will learn alongside the Artist-In-Residence – a renowned operatic guest performer and teacher who presents recitals, conducts master classes and instructs participants on success in the opera art and industry.
As members of the workshop, Young Artists engage in daily Stage-Movement and Stage-Skills sessions, led by acclaimed artist-faculty. Each year, HSO highlights a new Special-Topic Seminar – introducing a performance skill such as Stage Combat or Make-up for the Stage.
Summer 2026 marks an exciting return of Harrower Summer Opera with Artistic Director and Principal Stage Director
Andrew Ryker
, Professor of Voice at the Georgia State University School of Music. Our 2026 Artist-In-Residence is Grammy award winning international opera singer
Karen Slack
PURCHASE YOUR TICKET
Friday, June 12 - 7pm - The Light in the Piazza
Saturday, June 13 - 3pm - The Light in the Piazza
Saturday, June 13 - 7pm - Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi
Sunday, June 14 - 3pm - Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi
Artist Faculty
ARTIST FACULTY
ANDREW RYKER
Artistic Director
Director of The Light in the Piazza
ABOUT
American baritone
Andrew Ryker
is an award-winning voice teacher, musician, and nationally recognized stage director. Recent voice and opera students perform on stages all over the country, from the Met to San Francisco Opera. Ryker has had nine award winners in Metropolitan Opera competitions, over 50 winners at NATS, and young artist placements at Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota, Merola, Des Moines Metro, Minnesota, Utah Festival, St. Louis, the Spoleto Festival, and more. Recent Musical Theatre alumni are on Broadway national tours (Anastasia, Come from Away, Hairspray), in off-Broadway shows (The Office, Friends, Stranger Sings), on cruise ships (Beetlejuice, Cats, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots), at Disney (Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast, Frozen), and featured on several original cast albums.
Ryker has served as Director of Opera at both Ohio University and Capital University and staged more than 40 productions for companies like Opéra Louisiane, Des Moines Metro, Opera North, Boston Opera Collaborative, Intermezzo, FIO Italia, Opera New Jersey, MetroWest Opera, and more. He and spent seven years at Des Moines Metro Opera, directing for their summer festival, educational outreach tours, and nationally recognized apprentice artist program. Prior to his time in Des Moines, Andrew was Artistic Director of Boston Opera Collaborative and served on the directing staff at the New England Conservatory. Awards have included an Elliot Norton Award, a Cloris Award, a Cincinnati SongSlam Award, a Goldowsky Directing Fellowship, and his production of Britten’s Curlew River was named Boston’s “Best Staged Opera of the Year” by The Boston Phoenix.
Ryker has a diverse background onstage. Operatic roles included Papageno, Don Alfonso, the Count, Silvio, Belcore, Marco, St. Brioche, Strephon, John Brooke, and the lead role in the US premiere of Dvorak’s Kral a Uhlir. Oratorio credits include Bach’s Johannes Passion, Durufle’s Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah and he’s been heard with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, College Light Opera Company, La Musica Lirica, Trinity Church, and more. Recent highlights include the lead role in Parade with StageWest, a solo cabaret at Noce jazz club, Messiah at the Church of the Good Shepherd, and the title role in I am Harvey Milk with The Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus. Andrew has sung in master classes with Warren Jones, Pierre Vallet, Vinson Cole, and Alan Held and is an alumnus of Millikin University, where he studied with Kathryn Hartgrove. He received his master’s in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory where he graduated with Academic Honors and was a student of William Cotten and John Moriarty.
KAREN SLACK
Artist-In-Residence
ABOUT
Praised as “one of opera’s strongest voices at present – both as a singer and as a shaper of its culture” (
The Washington Post
), GRAMMY® Award-winning soprano
Karen Slack
is celebrated as both an extraordinary performer and a change-maker in classical music.
Recently, Slack has been on a nationwide tour for her critically acclaimed
African Queens
, which continues into her 2025–26 season, including an orchestral version presented by the Naples Philharmonic in Naples, Florida.
Slack’s season engagements include world premieres of Tamar-kali’s new work with the Miró Quartet for the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music and Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s presentation of Kathryn Bostic’s
Drag
, and Brittany J. Green’s
Letters to America
, part of the American Composers Orchestra’s program
Hello, America: Letters to Us, from Us
. She also appears with the Orlando Philharmonic, Chamber Music Cincinnati, and Spivey Hall.
Slack’s
Beyond the Years: Unpublished Songs of Florence Price
with pianist Michelle Cann, in collaboration with ONEcomposer on Azica Records, won the
2025 GRAMMY® Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
. In 2025, Slack was featured on Shawn Okpebholo’s album
Songs in Flight
, released with Cedille Records.
Slack has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Scottish Opera, and many others. In concert, her credits include performances with the Melbourne and Sydney Symphonies, Bergen Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. She made her
New York Philharmonic debut in May 2024
A recipient of the 2022
Sphinx Medal of Excellence
and 2025
MPower Artist Grant
, Slack is an Artistic Advisor for Portland Opera, serves on the board of the American Composers Orchestra, and holds a faculty position at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
In the 2024–2025 season, she served as
Artist-in-Residence
at both Lyric Opera of Chicago and Babson College.
A native Philadelphian, Slack is a graduate of the prestigious
Curtis Institute of Music
, as well as the
Adler Fellowship
and
Merola Opera Program
at San Francisco Opera.
Learn more at
www.karenslack.com
CARA CONSILVIO
Director of Gianni Schicchi & Suor Angelica
ABOUT
Cara Consilvio
is a director and producer of opera, theater, and film.
Recent directing projects include productions of
La Bohème
for Portland Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, and Opera Carolina. Other recent productions include
Carmen
and
The Elixir of Love
for Charlottesville Opera.
Cara is passionate about new work and has directed six world premieres:
Bernadette’s Cozy Book Nook
by Joe Illick and Mark Campbell for Fort Worth Opera;
Inheritance
by Lei Liang and Matt Donovan at UC San Diego;
Our Trudy
by Anna Pidgorna and Maria Reva for Ad Astra Music Festival;
I Give You My Home
by Beth Weimann for Guerilla Opera; and
The Leader
by Karim Al-Zand and
Kassandra
by Anthony Brandt and Neena Beber, which both premiered at Opera in the Heights.
Cara has also directed new productions of contemporary operas such as
Glory Denied
After Life
Scalia/Ginsburg
The Last American Hammer
Penny
Second Nature
, and
An American Dream
Other directing highlights include
Hydrogen Jukebox
at The Chautauqua Opera;
Rigoletto
for HALO;
Suor Angelica
at Tri-Cities Opera;
The Threepenny Opera
for Syracuse Opera;
The Sound of Music
for Charlottesville Opera;
The Elixir of Love
for Piedmont Opera; and
Il Trovatore
for Opera in the Heights.
As a teacher and guest director, Cara has taught at Oberlin Conservatory and The Boston University Opera Institute, and has directed productions for Loyola University New Orleans, The Cleveland Institute of Music, UC San Diego, DePauw University, and The Hartt School of Music.
Cara brings her extensive performance background and training as a dancer, actor, and singer to her work. She earned a BA in Dramatic Art and Dance from the University of California at Berkeley. She pursued advanced acting training with the American Conservatory Theater and Williamstown Theater Festival and completed three years of post-baccalaureate studies in vocal performance at SUNY Fredonia.
Cara is a co-founder of Hup! Productions. Her feature film debut,
For the Love of Friends
, is currently streaming on PBS Passport. Other film directing projects include the narrative short films
C.I.T.
and
Dry
. Cara is a producer and co-story writer of the horror comedy feature film
Camp Wedding
, which is distributed by Gravitas Pictures. She has also produced and directed many tribute videos, promotional videos, and behind-the-scenes mini-docs for the NEA Opera Honors, the NEA Jazz Masters videos, OPERA America, and the American Composers Orchestra.
BORIS CEPEDA
Conductor of Gianni Schicchi & Suor Angelica
ABOUT
Since 2009,
Boris Cepeda
has earned widespread recognition as a conductor, achieving success in both opera and symphonic concert settings. His repertoire spans rediscovered classical masterpieces and premieres of contemporary works.
His most recent triumph was conducting
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
with the
National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador
, celebrating the 200th anniversary of this monumental composition. This landmark performance highlighted his visionary approach and deep connection to classical music.
Boris has held significant positions at leading opera houses in Germany, where he demonstrated his versatility as a conductor, répétiteur, and vocal coach. At
Theater Münster
, he served as Head of Music and Deputy Choir Director, conducting opera productions and preparing soloists for acclaimed performances. At the
Anhaltisches Theater Dessau
, he worked as répétiteur and Deputy Head of Music. His repertoire includes a diverse range of over 70 works, spanning from Handel to Eötvös, showcasing his adaptability and expertise across genres.
Renowned as a vocal coach, Boris has prepared singers for leading opera houses and festivals, including
Bayreuth
Royal Opera House London
, the
Salzburg Festival
, and
Theater an der Wien
. His expertise in Lied performance has earned him critical acclaim, particularly for his dedication to the works of Schubert, Reger, Eggert, and Reimann.
In 2009, Boris launched together with Baritone Peter Schöne the innovative project
www.schubertlied.de
, which focused on promoting and interpreting Schubert’s Lieder. For this groundbreaking work, he was awarded the prestigious
Schubert Prize
, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the art of Lied.
DOUGLAS KINNEY FROST
Conductor of The Light in the Piazza
ABOUT
Douglas Kinney Frost
has led orchestras and opera companies on four continents, consistently thrilling audiences and inspiring the musicians with whom he works.
Under the baton of music director Douglas Kinney Frost the orchestra consistently presents concerts that are interesting, stimulating and thought-provoking,” says the
Deseret News
Mr. Kinney Frost currently serves as Principal Conductor of the Butler Opera Center, and Associate Professor of Conducting and Opera at the University of Texas in Austin. He has conducted 18 productions, including two world premieres, with this acclaimed pre-professional opera training program. He maintains a vibrant conductor training studio; in recent years his students have earned positions with the Detroit, Baltimore, Wheeling, and Costa Rican Symphony Orchestras, and placed in the
La Maestra
Khatchaturian
and
American Prize
conducting competitions.
In concert, the breadth of his repertoire has been highlighted in performances with the National Symphony of Mexico, the Bellas Artes in Mexico City, and orchestras in Brazil and Uruguay, Russian
Federal Orchestra in Moscow, St. Petersburg Festival Orchestra, Kharkov Philharmonia in Ukraine,
and the National Orchestra of Korea in Seoul, Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, and in the U.S. with the Colorado Bach Festival, Rochester Philharmonic, Utah, Virginia, and Richmond Symphonies, among others.
Labelled a Britten specialist by Maestro James Conlon, Kinney Frost was invited to serve as associate conductor for his work on Benjamin Britten Operas numerous times including:
The Turn of the Screw
Albert Herring
, and
Billy Budd
with Los Angeles Opera and
A Midsummer Night
s Dream
and
Curlew River
with the Fondazione Teatro dell
Opera in Rome and
The Burning Fiery Furnace
with the Ravinia Festival. He returned to Los Angeles Opera for John Corigliano
The Ghosts of Versailles
and
il barbiere di Siviglia.
In 2015 he made important debuts in Los Angeles and New York City. The LA Times commented,
...orchestra and chorus conducted by
Douglas Kinney Frost
were excellent, and at times it was fun watching Frost with his colorful style of conducting,” on his performances of
Figaro 90210
. This 21st century update of Mozart
s classic played to sold-out houses and added performances at LA Opera. He also served as Music Director and conductor for a co-production of David Lang
Difficulty of
Crossing a Field
for Beth Morrison Projects which received a concert performance in New York and was recorded and released on Cantaloupe Records. Other recent highlights include performances of
Porgy and Bess
at the prestigious Teatro Col
n in
Buenos Aires,
La bohè
me
at Florida Grand Opera,
Madama Butterfly
for Utah Opera,
elisir
amore
for Opera Saratoga, the world
premi
ere
of Libby Larsen
Dreaming Blue
at the Kennedy Center
Imagination Celebration,
the Boston premi
re of
Little Women
and
The Turn of the Screw
at The New England Conservatory,
The Prodigal Son
with University of Southern California, Gluck
Armide
and Argento
Postcard from Morocco
at the University of Michigan, a double-bill of
Suor
Angelica
Gianni Schicchi
at the Mississippi Opera, a new productions of
Glory Denied
Madama Butterfly
and
La
traviata
with Anchorage Opera, and the associate conductor and chorus master for Opera Colorado
s production of
Nixon in China
, which was recently released on the Naxos record label.
As Music Director, and later Artistic Director of Syracuse Opera, Douglas Kinney Frost refocused the company
s artistic vision and redefined its commitment to the community. He broadened main-stage programming by conducting the company
s first new production of an American work, Mark Adamo
Little Women
, while maintaining a commitment to producing the standard repertoire with distinction. He inaugurated a Resident Artist Program whose members appeared throughout upstate New York in performances of Peter Brook
La trag
die de Carmen
, Kinney Frost
OPERAMANIA!
, and a new adaptation of
La bohè
me
titled
Barrio Boh
me
, which is set in 1960
s Spanish Harlem, created by Kinney Frost. His creative audience development initiatives brought Syracuse Opera programs throughout the state of New York. He also created the country
s first professional opera conducting training program with Ithaca College. He led sixteen productions with the company, in addition to concert performances of
Der fliegende Holl
nder
in collaboration with the Syracuse Symphony with opera stars Greer Grimsley and Lori Phillips.
Mr. Kinney Frost was previously the Head of Music Staff and Chorus Master at Florida Grand Opera in Miami. He also served as a faculty member of the FGO
s acclaimed young artist program serving as Conductor. Before coming to Miami, Mr. Kinney Frost spent six seasons as Associate Conductor and Chorus Master for Utah Opera, providing musical leadership over 25 productions, and conducting main-stage productions. He also led several cutting edge productions with the company
s young artist program, and created the Company
s nationally recognized educational programming.
As an advocate for arts education Mr. Kinney Frost has created numerous education and outreach programs for orchestras and opera companies. One of his opera education programs,
OPERAMANIA
, was broadcast for two seasons on PBS. He is frequently asked to lecture about music and the training of young vocalists and conductors. He has been a panelist at conferences for the National Endowment for the Arts, League of American Orchestras
, Conductor
s Guild, Utah
Arts Council, Opera America and Virginia Commission for the Arts, and currently sits on the Contemporary Repertoire and Professional Development committees for Opera America.
MENGYAO SUN
Musical Preparation for The Light in the Piazza
ABOUT
Mengyao Sun
’s musical journey began at the tender age of four, when she first embraced the enchanting world of the piano. Her prodigious talent quickly became apparent as she securing the third place at the prestigious Liu Shi Kun Young Artist Piano Competition in Hong Kong by the time she was ten. This early recognition paved the way for her later career.
At the age of twelve, Mengyao’s exceptional skills caught the attention of experts, leading to her acceptance into the Music School of Tianjin Conservatory under the tutelage of Professor Alexander Sokolov. Her passion for the piano continued to flourish, and at eighteen, she was accepted by full scholarship to the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Mengyao’s pursuit of excellence in music manifested in her triumphant on the international stage. In 2009, she seized the first prize at the International Young Musician Competition in Bulgaria, followed by a second-place win at the International Music Competition of Kabalevsky in Moscow, Russia, the following year. Her dedication to her musicianship was further showcased as she performed alongside the Saint Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, masterfully interpreting renowned compositions such as Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.3, Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.2, and Liszt’s Piano Concerto No.1 during her time at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory.
Her journey reached new heights in 2011 when she secured a spot in the prestigious International Prokofiev Piano Competition, solidifying her status as an accomplished pianist. In 2012, Mengyao proudly earned her Master’s Degree with all excellent grades from the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory, a testament to her unwavering dedication and musical prowess.
Continuing her pursuit of excellence, Mengyao’s thirst for piano performance led her to the Mannes College for Music in NYC, where she studied under the guidance of Professor Irina Morozova, a luminary in the field. Seeking new horizons, she transferred to the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University in 2015, honing her skills under the tutelage of the acclaimed pianist Alexander Kobrin. In 2016, she attained an Artist Diploma, solidifying her expertise.
Mengyao’s career expanded into collaborative pianist and chamber music. Her debut performance of “Eddie’s Song” by James J. Orgburn in Atlanta,showcased her innovative spirit. Serving as a collaborative pianist for the International Tuba and Euphonium Festival (IET) since 2019, she graced the stage with luminaries like Øystein Baadsvik, Thomas Ruedi, Adam Frey, and more.
Mengyao as collaborating with musicians across the spectrum. Her expansive repertoire encompasses collaborating with instruments ranging for saxophone, violin, and cello to euphonium, clarinet, tuba, flute, oboe, percussion, and vocalists.
Currently living in Atlanta, Mengyao Sun’s musical world continues to flourish. As a collaborative and solo pianist, she shares her artistry with audiences, leaving an impressive impression through her performances. Additionally, she will be serving dual appointment as a collaborative pianist at both of the University of North Georgia, and Georgia State University. Her music journey is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and the timeless beauty of music.
LOGAN SOUTHER
Musical Preparation for Gianni Schicchi & Suor Angelica
ABOUT
Logan Souther
is an imaginative and versatile musician whose artistry spans the podium, piano, and arts leadership. Equally at home in the opera pit, on the concert stage, and in community engagement, he has built a career defined by creativity, adaptability, and a belief in music’s power to inspire, educate, and connect audiences.
He currently serves as Associate Conductor of The Hamptons Festival of Music (TH•FM), where he directs the Salon Series and Hamptons Music Club — programs that make classical music approachable for new audiences. With TH•FM, Logan has led the New American Sinfonietta in performances from Stravinsky to Tchaikovsky, conducted outreach concerts for hundreds of students, and presented a live orchestral accompaniment to Charlie Chaplin’s
A Dog’s Life
with The Hamptons International Film Festival.
Logan’s command of both orchestral and operatic repertoire has taken him to the music staffs of Sarasota Opera, The Atlanta Opera, OperaNEO, The Harrower Summer Opera Workshop, and The Augusta Opera Initiative. He has served as Interim Music Director of the University of Georgia Opera Theatre and as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Georgia State University Opera Theatre, elevating artistic standards and expanding programming from Mozart to Stephen Paulus.
On the symphonic stage, he has appeared as guest conductor with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and the Georgia Festival of Music, and served as Assistant Conductor of the Bellingham Festival of Music, the premier orchestral festival of the Pacific Northwest. An expressive pianist, he frequently collaborates in recital and chamber music with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and New Jersey Symphony.
A passionate advocate for community engagement, Logan partners with the Atlanta Music Project, an El Sistema–inspired organization, bringing orchestral and operatic music to audiences of all ages.
An enterprising artistic leader, he founded the Gainesville Sinfonietta at 19, developing it into a professional orchestra offering free concerts and cultural enrichment to North Georgia. He has also self-produced numerous orchestral events, successfully mobilizing funding to sustain the legacy of classical music in America.
Logan began conducting studies at 15 with Michael Palmer, continuing with him at Georgia State University, where he earned a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting (2017) and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance (2016). Additional mentorship includes Dwight Oltman and David Effron.
2026 Shows
2026 Shows
The Light in the Piazza
Conducted by Douglas Kinney Frost
Directed by Andrew Ryker
Musical Preparation by Mengyao Sun
The Light in the Piazza
– Margaret Johnson is an American woman traveling through Italy with her daughter, Clara, in the 1950s. When Clara meets and falls in love with a young Italian man named Fabrizio, their romance blossoms quickly—but Margaret hesitates to approve the match, as Clara has a developmental disability resulting from a childhood accident. As Margaret struggles between protecting her daughter and letting her experience love, both women confront the risks and beauty of vulnerability. The story explores themes of love, innocence, and acceptance across cultures and generations.
Gianni Schicchi & Suor Angelica
Conducted by Boris Cepeda
Directed by Cara Consilvio
Musical Preparation by Clinton Smith
Gianni Schicchi
– When the wealthy Buoso Donati dies, his greedy relatives discover he has left his fortune to a monastery. They enlist the clever Gianni Schicchi to help them forge a new will. Schicchi agrees—but tricks them all by writing the will in his own favor, securing the fortune for himself and his daughter’s future. It’s a witty satire on greed and hypocrisy.
Suor Angelica
– Sister Angelica lives in a convent after being forced there by her noble family for having an illegitimate child. When her cold-hearted aunt visits, Angelica learns her son has died. Overcome with grief, she takes poison, then desperately prays for forgiveness. In the opera’s final, transcendent moment, she experiences a vision of the Virgin Mary bringing her to heaven to reunite with her child.
Past Seasons
PAST SEASONS
2016
L'incoronazione di Poppea
The Consul
“A Celebration of Shakespeare” - Scenes
2017
Dialouges des Carmélites
Carmen
“Scenesational Scenes”
2018
Ballad of Baby Doe
Little Women
"...endings..." Scenes featuring opera's greatest finales!
2019
Cosi Fan Tutte
Le Nozze di Figaro
“Seasonal Scenes” - A scene for all seasons!
2023
Die Zauberflöte
Albert Herring
2024
Susannah
in collaboration with the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra
Little Women
2025
The Crucible
in collaboration with the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra
Falstaff
2018 Production of
Ballad of Baby Doe
2023 Productions of
Albert Herring
and
Die Zauberflöte
2025 Productions of
Falstaff
and
The Crucible
Tuition & Housing
TUITION & HOUSING
Tuition & Fees
Application Fee: $50
Due at the time of applying. Application deadline is January 23, 2026.
Program Tuition: $1800
On Campus Housing
On campus housing will be available to participants. Pricing and housing information will be released in the spring.
Applicants acknowledge that, should they be accepted into the program, all tuition and fees must be paid in full by April 10, 2026. Participants who are not paid in full by April 10, will have their slot and housing canceled. For participant cancellations made after April 10, 2026, the full tuition and housing fee is incurred.
All fees are non-refundable.
On Campus Housing
Accepted participants will have the option to stay on campus for the duration of the program. Participants of Harrower Summer Opera who choose on-campus housing will be housed in Georgia State University's dorms.
Check-in: Thursday, May 21
Check-out: Monday, June 15
There are two options for housing:
Housing with Meal Plan - $1,650
Housing for 3 weeks
Meal Plan - Weekday Breakfast/Weekend Brunch, Lunch (week days only), and daily Dinner in Georgia State's Piedmont North Dining Hall
Wi-Fi Access
Housing Only - $775
Housing for 3 weeks
Wi-Fi Access
Participants must provide their own extra-long linens, towels, blankets and pillows. Rooms are traditional dorm-style with two participants sharing one room and bath. Parking is limited and can be purchased separately in advance. The cost of parking is $25 per week.
Housing must be paid in full at the time of registering. The deadline to request housing is April 15. All fees are non-refundable.
Application & Audition Requirements
APPLICATION & AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Application Requirements
Professional Headshot
If you don't have a professional headshot, please submit a photo suitable for publishing.
Performance Resume
Links to Recordings of Repertoire, based on your selected track of study
See below
Recording & Repertoire Selections
for requirements
PantherCard ID Compliant Photo
$50 Non-refundable Application Fee
Applicants should be prepared to fill out the application in its entirety once the application is started. The above list of requirements will be uploaded during the application.
All auditions will be heard through the online application. There will be no live auditions.
All participants must be 18 or older on or before the start of the program.
Deadlines
Application Closes
January 24, 2026
Acceptance Offers Sent By
February 27, 2026
Participants may be accepted early and will have separate deadlines for acceptance communicated at the time of acceptance.
Final Participant Acceptance Deadline
March 6, 2026
*$300 non-refundable deposit due at the time of acceptance. Deposit applies to your final tuition balance. Participants may be accepted early and will have separate deadlines for acceptance communicated at the time of acceptance.
Participant Tuition Due
April 1, 2026
Housing Request & Payment Deadline
April 1, 2026
Recording & Repertoire Selections
Vocal Participant Repertoire
Participants should have recordings of 2 performances. The recordings should be available online (YouTube, Dropbox, etc). Links to the recordings will be entered on the application.
Performance recordings are the participant's choice. Arias or art songs are preferred. Aria selections do not need to be from the repertoire of the current year, although they can be.
Collaborative Pianist Intern Repertoire
Participants interested in a Collaborative Pianist internship should have an interest and experience in collaborative piano performance. Participants selected as a collaborative pianist will have their tuition waived, but will be responsible for their own housing.
Collaborative Pianist applicants will be asked to submit the following repertoire selections for the video audition:
A short, solo piano piece
"Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen" from
Die Zauberflöte
without a singer
"Si, mi chiamano Mimi" from
La Boheme
without a singer
Act 2 finale from
Nozze di Figaro
without singer
PantherCard ID Photo Requirements
All accepted participants will be issued a Georgia State University Panther ID Card upon arrival, printed with your identification photo. The PantherCard issued is your key to most buildings on campus during your time at Georgia State. The photo should be "drivers license" style and must adhere to the following Georgia State University PantherCard photo requirements:
Solid Background
Photo must be taken in front of a solid white or light blue background.
Centered, Full-Face View
The photo must be centered with a full-face view, directly facing the camera. Photo should be from the shoulders up. The top of the head should not be cut off.
No Headphones
Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
No Head Coverings
There should be no hat or head covering unless worn daily for a religious purpose or for medical reasons supported by medical certification. Your full face must be visible with no shadows over the face.
No Masks
There should be no masks obscuring the face, even if worn daily or for medical purposes. Your full face must be visible.
No Obscuring Jewelry
Any jewelry worn should not obscure the face.
Unaccepted: Current Drivers License or College IDs
Photos of a current drivers license or college ID will not be accepted. A clean photo must be submitted.
Glasses & Hearing Devices
If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, or similar articles, they may be worn for your photo (make sure to avoid glare if wearing prescription glasses).
Dark glasses or non-prescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons (a medical certificate may be required).
Photos that do not meet the above criteria will not be accepted. Participants will be asked to resubmit photos until an acceptable photo is received, which may result in delays receiving your Panther ID Card.
Submit Application
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS
Please read the
Application & Audition Requirements
tab carefully before submitting your application.
There is a non-refundable application fee of $50.00 due at the time of submitting applications. Be prepared to fill out the application in its entirety; applications cannot be saved in progress. You will be asked to upload the following documents during the application:
Professional Headshot
Performance Experience Resume
PantherCard ID Compliant ID Photo (Non-Georgia State University Students only)
Links to Video Recordings
Artist Biography
All participants must be 18 or older on or before the start of the program.
History
PETER AND IRENE HARROWER
Peter and Irene teaching at the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop in 1981
Irene performing opera
Peter in Rigoletto with Georgia Opera in 1977
Peter stage directing
Founded in 1980, Harrower Summer Opera (HSO) brings young singers, directors, and faculty from across the United States to Georgia State University to learn and practice their craft. Beginning as a series of seminars and workshops, Harrower Summer Opera has grown into a nationally competitive program for aspiring singers and directors. Peter and Irene Harrower, two internationally acclaimed opera singers, began the program underscoring the need for highly qualified, professional staff to instruct young singers specifically in the art of performing opera. They noted a lack of opportunity for opera in the southeast. In the words of Mr. Harrower, “there is no chance for young people to participate in opera, only to hear it. The stage is the greatest teacher.” They combined their private voice studios with the Georgia State University curriculum and facilities in order to create a program that taught operatic singing, acting for the lyric stage, characterization, body movement, preparation of roles, stagecraft, and diction.
In 1991 W. Dwight Coleman was named the Executive/Artistic Director of HSO. As Executive/Artistic Director he began a tradition of presenting one-act American operas with a composer-in-residence that continued throughout the next sixteen years. Mr. Coleman and Irene Harrower worked closely together to build the program after Peter Harrower’s death in 1988. In 2009, Carroll Freeman was named Artistic Director and served as the stage director. The following year Mr. Freeman was named Classical Singer magazine’s “Stage Director of the Year, 2010.” Over the next decade, with Mr. Coleman as E.D. and Mr. Freeman as A.D., Harrower began producing two fully staged operas with a renowned operatic performer as an artist-in-residence. In 2022, after Mr. Coleman and Mr. Freeman retired, Harrower named Dr. Jonathan Hudson Artistic Director and Amy Reid Executive Director, committing to continue the Harrower legacy.
In 2025, Andrew Ryker was named Artistic Director.
Forty seasons later the program has taught thousands of young musicians and continues to grow. HSO has received two invitations to perform at the National Opera Association Convention (1993 and 2008) for its productions of
Test Tube
and
Bluebeard’s Waiting Room
, both by Milton Granger. Artists-in-Residence have included world-renowned faculty such as Sherrill Milnes, Frederica von Stade, Angela Brown, George Shirley, Jennifer Rowley, and Ron Raines. Participants have gone on to sing with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Atlanta Opera, Tanglewood Musical Festival, Minnesota Opera, Brevard Music Festival, and Sarasota Opera, among others.
Since the Workshop’s inception, individual contributions and grants from the Atlanta Music Festival Association, Fulton County Arts Council, Lanie & Ethel Foundation, Atlanta Opera Guild, and Atlanta Music Club have totaled more than $500,000. Additionally, the Goldovsky Foundation has endorsed Harrower Summer Opera by funding internships in stage directing, one of only two programs in the U.S. to receive this honor.
Peter and Irene’s vision for a comprehensive and professional quality young artist training program was remarkable for its time, leading to one of the longest running summer opera programs in the country. The Workshop is an Atlanta music staple and a testament to the quality of opera training being taught at Georgia State University’s School of Music. Harrower Summer Opera continues to uphold its history of providing the highest caliber of training to young artists on their way to becoming opera professionals.
Irene Harrower
Irene Callaway Harrower was recognized throughout the world as a musician of the highest caliber. Born in Murfreesboro, Arkansas on January 10, 1929 to Cora Ada and Wallis Callaway, she was one of four siblings. Irene’s passion for singing grew out of her commitment to the Methodist church. Always a quick learner and advanced student, Irene entered college at the age of sixteen where she attended both Lon Morris Jr. College and then Henderson State University studying music. In support of her career, church members raised money to send her to summers at the Berkshire Music Center (now the Tanglewood Institute) in Lenox, MA and subsequently on to New York City.
After living in NYC for a few years auditioning and working as a typist, Irene won the distinguished Fulbright Scholar award. In 1954 she traveled to Rome, Italy where she performed with the Teatro dell’Opera, the Orchestra of Santa Cecilia of Rome, the Orchestras of Radio-Television Italy, the Vienna Volksoper, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, France, and many other companies across Europe. It was in Rome that she met the love of her life bass-baritone Peter Harrower, fellow Fulbright Scholar. They married in Rome, Italy in 1957 and returned to Peter’s hometown of Atlanta several years later. Irene continued to have a vibrant career in America singing with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Atlanta Symphony, and other major opera companies.
After years of traveling and touring, Irene decided to dedicate the rest of her career to teaching. She began by building a vibrant vocal studio for professional singers in the Atlanta area. Throughout her career Irene was not only devoted to music, but also an avid lover of languages. She was fluent in Italian and French and studied German and Spanish voraciously. This love led her to create an internationally touring master class on diction for singing titled “Distinctly Diction.” She was adamant about telling students if you cannot speak the language you cannot sing it. She loved listening to young singers and adjudicated for local and national competitions such as Merola Opera Program and the Metropolitan Opera Competition. A dedicated Christian in the Episcopal church, she often volunteered her time and her talents to further the efforts of the church. She spent her free time gardening, volunteering, and giving back to the community in as many ways as she could.
In order to further expand her and her husband’s students’ knowledge of stagecraft, they decided to create Harrower Summer Opera at Georgia State University. When her husband passed away, she took on his vocal studio at Georgia State University and also stepped into the position of General Director/Artistic Administrator for the School of Music. She enjoyed teaching students at this program until her retirement in 2007.
Peter Harrower
Atlanta native Peter Harrower was a highly respected operatic bass-baritone. Born on July 6, 1923 to Margaret and Pierce Harrower, he was surrounded by music from the time he was born. His father was a professional singer who often performed at Radio City Music Hall, and his mother was a fine pianist and accompanist. His grandfather made and played violins. Despite having a talent for singing he decided to attend Georgia Institute of Technology to obtain a degree in civil engineering. When WWII began he served in the Air Force as a bombardier, and subsequently served in the Korean War.
He won a Fulbright Scholar award in 1956 and had three triumphant years singing with the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome, the Vienna Volksoper, the Orchestra of Santa Cecilia, and the orchestras of Radio-Television Italy. It was there that he met and married Irene Calaway, American lyric soprano also in Europe on a Fulbright scholarship. They returned to the States and continued to have phenomenal careers. Peter performed regularly with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and traveled all over the States to sing with professional companies. In 1960 he became a professor of music at Georgia State University and taught there for 28 years. He taught Italian, opera history, concert repertoire, private lessons, and directed the operas. Additionally, he created the graduate vocal performance tract for the GSU School of Music. He loved gardening, hunting, fishing, sailing, and watercoloring. He was dedicated to the Episcopal church, designed logos for music events, built the opera sets, volunteered at the soup kitchen, and even sang the national anthem for the Atlanta Falcon games. He spent every second of his free time helping and mentoring others.
Towards the end of his life, he and his wife created Harrower Summer Opera. They designed it specifically for their students in order to give them more opportunities to sing and perform opera at a high level. After his passing in 1988, his wife continued to develop the HSO into the nationally competitive program that it is today.
Support Opera
Georgia State University's thriving opera program celebrates rising opera stars. Through the support of generous individuals, students enrolled in the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop or as a music major at the university benefit from your support.
Harrower Summer Opera Alumna
Georgia State University and Harrower Summer Opera Workshop Alumna, Gabrielle Beteag, named the Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and cast member of the
San Francisco Opera
recalls her win in this episode of Artistic Voices.
Listen to the Interview
College of the Arts
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