"LA Opera's new Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program will help ensure the highest standards of performance not only at LA Opera, but at opera companies around the world."

Plácido Domingo, Eli and Edythe Broad General Director, LA Opera

Created and overseen by Plácido Domingo, the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program is a two- to three-year paid residency for singers and pianists of exceptional talent who are currently in transition from academic training to a professional career in opera. Inaugurated during the 2006/07 season, the program is designed to support the future of opera by discovering and developing the talents of exceptionally gifted young artists to become performers of potentially international stature. LA Opera uses its resources to provide extensive training for the Domingo-Thornton Young Artists and also gives them the opportunity to further develop their skills in main-stage roles, as principal artists' covers, and in Young Artist concerts and productions.

The Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program's training component comprises individualized courses for each artist in the areas of musical coaching, voice lessons, language studies, acting and dance. The artists work with Mr. Domingo, James Conlon, members of the LA Opera music staff, and with guest coaches.

In addition to singing leading roles with LA Opera, alumni of the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program have made important debuts at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera, New York City Opera, the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the Australian Opera.

(LEFT TO RIGHT: Baritone Museop Kim as Marullo in Rigoletto; soprano Janai Brugger as Barbarina and soprano Tracy Cox as Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro; Valentina Fleer as Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto. (Photos by Robert Millard))

2011/12 Season
Erik Anstine, bass
Ben Bliss, tenor
Janai Brugger, soprano
Tracy Cox, soprano
Valentina Fleer, soprano
Museop Kim, baritone
Benedetta Mazzucatto, mezzo-soprano
Renee Rapier, mezzo-soprano
Alexey Sayapin, tenor

2010/11 Season
Matthew Anchel, bass
Janai Brugger, soprano
Tracy Cox, soprano
Valentina Fleer, soprano
Carin Gilfry, mezzo-soprano
Museop Kim, baritone
Alexey Sayapin, tenor
Douglas Sumi, coach/accompanist
Yohan Yi, bass-baritone

2009/10 Season
Angel Blue, soprano
Erica Brookhyser, mezzo-soprano
Hak Soo Kim, tenor
Matthew Lobaugh, coach/accompanist
Ronnita Nicole Miller, mezzo-soprano
José Adán Pérez, baritone
Douglas Sumi, coach/accompanist
Valerie Vinzant, soprano
Danielle Walker, soprano
Erika Wueschner, soprano
Yohan Yi, bass-baritone

2008/09 Season
Maria Alejandres, soprano
Daniel Armstrong, baritone
Angel Blue, soprano
Erica Brookhyser, mezzo-soprano
Hak Soo Kim, tenor
Matthew Lobaugh, coach/accompanist
Ronnita Nicole Miller, mezzo-soprano
José Adán Pérez, baritone
Douglas Sumi, coach/accompanist
Diego Torre, tenor
Valerie Vinzant, soprano
Danielle Walker, soprano

2007/08 Season
Anna Alkhimova, soprano
Daniel Armstrong, baritone
Angel Blue, soprano
Natasha Flores, mezzo-soprano
Rena Harms, soprano
Yulia Levin, coach/accompanist
David Lomelì, tenor
José Adán Pérez, baritone
Diego Torre, tenor
Karen Vuong, soprano

2006/07 Season
Kazem Abdullah, conductor
Anna Alkhimova, soprano
Daniel Armstrong, baritone
Angel Blue, soprano
Brian Calì, baritone
Natasha Flores, mezzo-soprano
Rena Harms, soprano
Jesus Leon, tenor
Yulia Levin, coach/accompanist
David Lomelì, tenor
Benjamin von Atrops, bass
Karen Vuong, soprano

LEFT TO RIGHT: Baritone Museop Kim as Marullo in Rigoletto; soprano Janai Brugger as Barbarina and soprano Tracy Cox as Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro; Valentina Fleer as Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto. (Photos by Robert Millard)