Taos Opera Institute (TOI) was established by Mary Jane Johnson and Linda Poetschke in 2007 as a four-week, intensive program designed to bridge the gap between academia and apprenticeships for the emerging young vocal artist. Our philosophy focuses on integrating and improving your technique, your physical well being, and your artistry.
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TOI takes place in the beautiful Taos Ski Valley, NM every June. Each year, twenty-eight promising young artists, from across the country and internationally, are invited to spend the month learning from esteemed faculty. The singers receive lessons 4 days per week which totals an entire semester of lessons in just one short month!
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Our program is designed with the singer in mind. The young artists are assigned to a language group French, German, Italian, and English and rotate to the next language each week. At the conclusion of each week are two concerts that feature the hard work that the young artists have accomplished. Throughout the month, guest faculty present sessions on the business of opera, media, branding and marketing, performance psychology and dramatic interpretation.

TOI centers on preparing the singer with key tools needed for success; therefore, the primary focus is not on producing a fully staged opera, but rather on producing a more confident and proficient singer.