Boston Conservatory at Berklee Hosts the National Opera Association's 2026 Conference Voice and opera students performed scenes from new works as part of the conference's chamber opera competition finals.
January 29, 2026
By
Brenna McFarland (PSC 26, voice)
Jared Kellman-Medina (MM 27, opera) and Noah Gunn (MM 26, voice) perform in Connie Harris's The Drifterman.
Photo by Robert Breault
Earlier this month, Boston Conservatory at Berklee found itself at the center of the nationwide opera conversation by hosting the National Opera Association (NOA) National Conference and competitions. Founded in 1945, the NOA supports opera education, performance, and scholarship in the United States, particularly within collegiate and young-artist training programs. Boston Conservatory has strong ties to NOA, one of them being Chair of Vocal Arts Isa Jess Mu oz, who just completed his post as president of the NOA. Through conferences, competitions, and professional exchange, the conference creates space for artists and educators to share ideas and shape the future of the art form.
One of the highlights of the conference was the Dominick Argento Chamber Opera Competition finals, which took place on the Boston Conservatory campus on January 7. Designed to encourage the creation of new chamber operas that can be produced by colleges, universities, and conservatories, this year's finals featured excerpts from three selected works: the comical, fantastical story of The Haberdasher Prince by Rosabella Gregory and Dina Soraya Gregory, the haunting nautical tale of The Drifterman by Connie Harris, and the dreamlike exploration of the human psyche in So You May Breathe in Light by Theo Chandler and Lydia Hwang. These works offered a snapshot of the diverse voices and stories emerging in contemporary opera.
Aubrey Bosse (MM 25, voice) and Megan Jacobs (GPD 27, voice) perform in The Haberdasher Prince, by Rosabella Gregory and Dina Soraya Gregory.
Photo by Robert Breault.
The scenes were performed by Boston Conservatory voice and opera students, who brought each piece to life with musicality, focus, and dramatic commitment. After each excerpt, the composers and librettists joined the performers onstage for a round of applause, and the finalists were evaluated by a panel of judges from across the US. So That You May Breathe in Light was named the winner, and will be performed in its entirety at the 2027 NOA conference in Minneapolis, MN.
In addition to the chamber opera competition, the Carolyn Bailey Argento Vocal Competition took place, offering emerging singers the chance to compete for over $15,000 in prizes. One of Boston Conservatory's own, Claire Burreson (MM 26, opera), took home the third-place Vrenios Family Award in the Scholarship Division.
Through panels, workshops, master classes, and performances focused on opera education, new works, and the evolving role of opera in academic settings, the conference provided a rare opportunity to engage with industry professionals from across the country-all while participating in a national conversation about the future of opera.
Learn more about Boston Conservatory's leading vocal arts programs.
Most Popular
Charlie Rosen 12 is among this years crop of alumni Grammy nominees.
Image by Mackenzie Stroh
Berklees 2026 Alumni Grammy Nominees: See the Full List From R&B and Americana to gospel, jazz, and game scoring, Berklee talent was recognized across a range of categories for their work as writers, producers, performers, and engineers.
Latest
Jared Kellman-Medina (MM 27, opera) and Noah Gunn (MM 26, voice) perform in Connie Harris's The Drifterman.
Photo by Robert Breault
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Hosts the National Opera Association's 2026 Conference Voice and opera students performed scenes from new works as part of the conference's chamber opera competition finals.
Image courtesy of Sriram Narayanan
Student Spotlight: Sriram Narayanan The classical pianist shares his experience growing up with a language disability and finding his voice through music.
Boston Conservatory Orchestra Presents East Coast Premiere of Peter and Leonardo Dugan Piano Concerto The Center Stage performance will take place in Bostons historic Symphony Hall.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
North America Stories
30/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/01/2026
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Hosts the National Opera Association's 2026 C...
30/01/2026
Student Spotlight: Sriram Narayanan The classical pianist shares his experience growing up with a language disability and finding his voice through music.
Ja...
29/01/2026
MELBOURNE, Fla., January 29, 2026 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) reports fu...
29/01/2026
Bluey' Wins Second Consecutive Top Streaming Title of the Year with 45 Billi...
29/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/01/2026
Boston Conservatory Orchestra Presents East Coast Premiere of Peter and Leonardo...
29/01/2026
Mercedes-Benz is marking 140 years of automotive innovation with a new S-Class b...
29/01/2026
Back to All News
Love is Blind: Sweden Returns for a Third Season - Premiering ...
29/01/2026
Back to All News
Unmask Bridgerton' Season 4 With Our Complete Coverage Guide
Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in Season ...
29/01/2026
Back to All News
Extraordinary Crime Mysteries, Mythical Worlds and High-Stakes...
29/01/2026
Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...
29/01/2026
Get ready to game - the native GeForce NOW app for Linux PCs is now available in beta, letting Linux desktops tap directly into GeForce RTX performance from the...
28/01/2026
Top L-R: The Liars, Jazz Infernal, Living with a Visionary
Second Row L-R: Paper Trail, The Baddest Speechwriter of All, Crisis Actor
Third Row: The Boys and ...
28/01/2026
Airlines, cruise and tour operators double down on ad spend as Australians' prioritise travel
Sydney January 28, 2026 - New Nielsen Ad Intel data shows a...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Marshall Electronics launches the CV420-27X, its next-generation ultra-high-definition (UHD) IP camera, at ISE 2026 (Stand 4N900). Engineered for modern IP-base...
28/01/2026
Grass Valley has announced that Television Mobiles Ltd. (TVM), one of Europe's leading independent outside broadcast providers, has carried out a major refu...
28/01/2026
AI, graphics and virtual software power new production capabilities
FOR-A is bringing remarkable new technologies to FOMEX, the Future of Media Exhibition (ex...
28/01/2026
Continuing a longstanding collaboration, Riedel Communications and Nordic media technology company Media Tailor have once again joined forces to deliver a state...
28/01/2026
Pebble has appointed Paul Nagle-Smith as vice president for customer fulfilment, strengthening its senior leadership focus on customer delivery and operational ...
28/01/2026
Cloud playout solutions provider, Veset has announced that leading Mexican broadcaster, TV Azteca is using Veset Nimbus on AWS as a disaster recovery (DR) playo...
28/01/2026
Ensuring it can keep pace with a rapidly evolving live sports market, Balkan broadcast facility provider MVP Most Valuable Production has upgraded its flags...
28/01/2026
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud solutions provider that powers and protects life online, and Yospace, the leader in dynamic ad insertion tec...
28/01/2026
The renowned Reykjavik City Theatre (RCT) recently underwent a major intercom system upgrade using Clear-Com solutions. This milestone project utilizes Clear-C...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Boston Conservatory Orchestra Premieres a New Piano Concerto by Peter and Leonar...
28/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix's Kohrra Season 2 Unveils A Thrilling Whodunnit Tr...
28/01/2026
Back to All News
What Next? Netflix Presents the Latest German-Speaking Series,...
28/01/2026
Quantum technologies are rapidly emerging as foundational capabilities for economic competitiveness, national security and scientific leadership in the 21st cen...
28/01/2026
Back to All News
The Wait Is Over: Teaser Trailer Drops for Jo Nesbo's Dete...
28/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Announces a Fictional Miniseries Inspired by the Marta del Castillo Case
Entertainment
28 January 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to ...
28/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Announces Santiago Mitres New Film Starring Ver nica L...
28/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils the Teaser Trailer for Berlin and the Lady wit...
27/01/2026
L-R: Jonathan Cuchacovich, Sonia Kennebeck, Alan Fischer, Daeil Kim, Andrew Sta...
27/01/2026
Nielsen will continue to drive growth and provide local audience measurement
in...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Hosts the National Opera Association's 2026 Conference Voice and opera students performed scenes from new works as part of the conference's chamber opera competition finals.
