I believe it taught me the discipline needed for a career. I've gotten to do what American singers don't usually get to do, which is live at home and sing. Indeed, Atkins found the experience of being a resident artist so valuable that it has inspired him to consider the possibility of working in a young artists program. A young artists program should serve not only the needs of its singers and opera as a whole, but also the company. Then you can really have a lot more of the public coming.
Plans are well underway.
The Colburn School, just down the street from the Pavilion, will provide classroom space. We need vocal teachers, language coaches, dramatic coaches and movement coaches. We will bring also people to teach master classes. The program will have its own artistic director, an appointment Los Angeles Opera hopes to announce by this spring. We don't want to get into competition with universities.